Leprosy and pregnancy: detection coefficient and proposal for a new index

Leprosy and pregnancy: detection coefficient and proposal for a new index

Introduction Our study presents a method to generate a novel detection coefficient for the association between leprosy and pregnancy (DCLP). Methods The DCLP...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Vera Regina da Cunha Menezes Palácios, Nelson Veiga Gonçalves, Cléa Nazaré Carneiro Bichara, Mauro José Pantoja Fontelles, Régis Bruni Andriolo, Jarbas Barbosa da Silva Junior, Marinete Marins Póvoa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2014-12-01
Series:Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
Subjects:
Leprosy
Pregnancy
Epidemiology
Online Access:http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0037-86822014000600798&lng=en&tlng=en
Description
Summary:Introduction 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.
ISSN:1678-9849

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