Analysis on the detection of new leprosy cases before, during and after the year of leprosy elimination campaigns.
To analyse the impact on of case finding of leprosy elimination campaigns (LECs), data on newly detected leprosy cases in a leprosy endemic area were collected before, during and after the year of LEC. The number of new leprosy cases detected during the year of LEC was significantly higher than previously. The number of newly detected cases after the year of LEC was similar to that of detected before the year of LEC in counties with persisting case finding activities. However, the number of newly detected cases after the year of LEC significantly decreased in counties without active case finding activities. The average distance from the homes of leprosy cases detected during LEC to the leprosy control unit at the count town was 62.8 km, which is farther than that of other leprosy cases detected before and after the year of LEC. The average time from disease onset to diagnosis of leprosy cases detected after the year of LEC shortened. The results also showed that carrying out LECs is unlikely to have a significant impact on the trend of case finding within a short time in local areas, but it may improve some indicators of leprosy patients and so promote leprosy control in local areas.
Jianping
Shen
S
Department of Field Control, National Centerfor STD and Leprosy Control, 12 Jiangwangmiao Road, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Wenzhong
Li
L
Meiwen
Yu
Y
Jun
Yang
Y
Longchao
Zhou
Z
Rongmao
Wang
W
Lufang
Hu
H
Hongjiang
Mou
M
Fuchang
Ye
Y
Xinguo
He
H
Liangde
Pan
P
D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care