title: Leprosy and pregnancy: detection coefficient and proposal for a new index.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our study presents a method to generate a novel detection coefficient for the association between leprosy and pregnancy (DCLP). Methods The DCLP was calculated for women from the State of Pará (2007-2009), Brazil. Data were ordered, divided into five equal parts (corresponding to the P20, P40, P60, and P80 percentiles), and classified as low, medium, high, very high, or hyperendemic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the new index, we established the DCLP parameters for low (<0.36), medium (0.36-0.69), high (0.70-1.09), very high (1.10-1.50), and hyperendemic (>1.50).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The new DCLP is more appropriate than the overall detection coefficient (DC), which does not take into account the particularities of the interaction between a disease and a specific physiological state.
authors: Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors: Vera Regina da Cunha Menezes
authors: VR
authors: Palácios
authors: Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors: Nelson Veiga
authors: NV
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors: Cléa Nazaré Carneiro
authors: CN
authors: Bichara
authors: Departamento de Saúde Integrada, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors: Mauro José Pantoja
authors: MJ
authors: Fontelles
authors: Departamento de Saúde Comunitária, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, PA, Brazil.
authors: Régis Bruni
authors: RB
authors: Andriolo
authors: Secretaria Nacional de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, Brasília, DF.
authors: Jarbas Barbosa da
authors: JB
authors: Silva Junior
authors: Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas e Parasitárias, Instituto Evandro Chagas, Ananindeua, PA, Brazil.
authors: Marinete Marins
authors: MM
authors: Póvoa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult