title: [Spacial analysis of Leprosy in the microregion of Almenara, MG, Brazil].
abstract: Hansen's disease is still considered a public health problem in Brazil. The objective of this ecological study is to analyze the epidemiological status of Hansen's disease in the microregion of Almenara, State of Minas Gerais, according to its spatial distribution and its relations with the socioeconomic conditions of the population. The results of this study classify the microregion as a hyperendemic area and indicate that the health services are not capable of detecting all existing cases, thus contributing to the maintenance of the disease transmission chain. The spatial analysis identified two clusters, one with detection coefficients above and the other below those expected. It is believed that the results of the study will help to establish guidelines for the development and implementation of prevention and control measures for Hansen's disease in the region.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG.
authors.forename: Evaldo Pinheiro
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Amaral
authors.forename: Francisco Carlos Félix
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Lana
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017062:Small-Area Analysis; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric