title: Evaluation of National Leprosy Eradication Program after Integration into General Health System in Rajkot District, Gujarat from 2003 to 2014.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) was launched in 1983 with the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the NLEP performance after integration into general health system from April 2003 to March 2014.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective record based study was conducted by obtaining data from Rajkot district leprosy center. Prevalence rate (PR), new case detection rate (NCDR), proportion of female cases, child cases, multibacillary (MB) cases, Grade II disability among new cases and release from treatment (RFT) cases were evaluated from April 2003 to March 2014 and analyzed by using Chi-square for trend analysis test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The PR of leprosy per 10,000 populations was significantly declined (P < 0.001) from 0.44 in 2003-2004 to 0.15 during March 2014. Reduction in NCDR trend was statistically significant (P < 0.001). The proportion of female cases among newly detected cases showed fluctuation from 36.23% in 2003-2004 to 37.10% in 2013-2014 (P > 0.05). The proportion of child cases also showed significantly declining trend from 12.08% in 2003-2004 to 6.70% in 2013-2014 (P < 0.05). Significant number of MB cases decreased from 122 (2003-2004) to 69 (2013-2014) (P < 0.001). Grade II disability proportion was 1.45% in the year 2003-2004, increased to 5.2% in 2009-2010 and then again decreased to 3.4% in 2013-2014 (P > 0.05). Proportion of patients RFT showed fluctuation from 66.66% (2003-2004) to 45.68% (2009-2010) and then 64.66% (2013-2014) (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The NLEP is having a favorable impact on the problem of leprosy by maintaining the elimination level of leprosy in Rajkot district over a decade.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Chudasama
authors.affiliation: District Tuberculosis Officer, District Tuberculosis Centre, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lakkad
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Umed V
authors.initials: UV
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sheth
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Dhara
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Thakkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
authors.forename: Matib
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rangoonwala
keywords: Disability; evaluation; integration; leprosy; prevalence