title: Country profile: leprosy in Brazil.
abstract: Brazil has high rates of leprosy case detection, especially in the northern and west-central areas of the country. Effective decentralisation of routine treatment for leprosy has gathered pace since the year 2000 and this has improved access for patients, leading to a peak in new case detection in 2003 and a gradual decline thereafter. This is in parallel with specific government programmes aimed at poverty reduction. Disability prevention and surveillance for drug resistance remain important tasks within the leprosy control programme, in which six key referral centres lead the way.
authors.forename: Maria Lucia Fernandes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Penna
authors.forename: Maria Aparecida De Faria
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Grossi
authors.forename: Gerson Oliveira
authors.initials: GO
authors.lastname: Penna
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D018563:Disease Notification; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005843:Geography; D006078:Government Programs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007917:Leprostatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007918:Leprosy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011203:Poverty / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D007917:Leprostatic Agents