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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 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.

Leprosy; Pregnancy; Epidemiology


Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical - SBMT, Núcleo de Medicina Tropical – UnB, Sala 43C – 70904-970, E-mails: rsbmt@uftm.edu.br | artes.rsbmt@gmail.com | sbmt@sbmt.org.br , WhatsApp: SBMT (61) 9.9192-6496, WhatsApp: RSBMT (34) 9.9996-5807 - Brasília - DF - Brazil
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