Estimating underreporting of leprosy in Brazil using a Bayesian approach.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Leprosy remains concentrated among the poorest communities in low-and middle-income countries and it is one of the primary infectious causes of disability. Although there have been increasing advances in leprosy surveillance worldwide, leprosy underreporting is still common and can hinder decision-making regarding the distribution of financial and health resources and thereby limit the effectiveness of interventions. In this study, we estimated the proportion of unreported cases of leprosy in Brazilian microregions.

Methodology/principal findings

Using data collected between 2007 to 2015 from each of the 557 Brazilian microregions, we applied a Bayesian hierarchical model that used the presence of grade 2 leprosy-related physical disabilities as a direct indicator

SUBMITTER: de Oliveira GL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8423270 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature