title: Rapid village survey to determine the size of the leprosy problem in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.
abstract: The rapid village survey (RVS) method has been developed as a simpler, less-expensive alternative to random sample surveys for determining the prevalence of leprosy and was compared with a total population survey (TVS). In the RVS, the cluster population receives clear information about the disease, and those with symptoms are invited to be examined by the survey team. A list of household contacts and suspects was made and those on the list were actively traced. The registered population was 20,815; 10 new patients were found among the 2034 people self-reporting in the RVS, 0 among the household contacts and suspects, and an additional 2 new patients in the TVS. There were 12 registered patients among the sample population. The prevalence rate found by the RVS was 1.06 per 1000(95% CI = 0.49-1.63) and in the TVS 1.16 per 1000 (95% CI = 0.5-1.77). The man-days and costs of an RVS are considerably less than those for a TVS. It was concluded that the RVS is a valid replacement for the TVS as conducted in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The RVS can be applied under low-endemic conditions and could be carried out by the general health staff.
authors.affiliation: Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pinitsoontorn
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Schreuder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chirawatkul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srisaenpang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Piyasilpa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saowakontha
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology