Chronic sequelae and disabilities are one of the main problems in leprosy. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of disabilities in leprosy patients after successfully completing multidrug therapy in Araguaína, Tocantins State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study including 282 cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2009. The degrees of disability at diagnosis and at discharge from treatment were collected from medical records and the National Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN). A simplified neurological workup was performed after discharge from treatment. The prevalence of disabilities at diagnosis was 29.4%, and 8.9% of then was grade II. Between diagnosis and discharge, the degree of physical disability worsened in 25% of cases. At diagnosis, the proportion of deformities was significantly higher in men (RR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.23-2.37). There was a significant association between disability and multibacillary disease (p < 0.001) and occurrence of reactions (p < 0.001). The data show that after discharge from multidrug therapy, in order to prevent chronic sequelae and functional limitations, continuous monitoring is still needed for individuals that have been recorded as cured and thus deleted from the records.

Cocalinho é uma comunidade quilombola localizada no norte do estado do Tocantins e, da mesma forma que outras comunidades de ancestralidade africana no Brasil, carece de assistência social adequada e de acesso aos serviços de saúde. Para entender o contexto atual dessa comunidade, vários parâmetros foram analisados: segurança alimentar, frequência de consumo alimentar, dados socioeconômicos e antropométricos, saúde bucal e prevalência de dentes cariados, ausentes e obturados. Os parâmetros avaliados indicaram, como esperado, uma grave falta de acesso à saúde em Cocalinho, o que reforça a necessidade de políticas públicas eficazes para atender às necessidades básicas dessa comunidade. Soluções voltadas ao incentivo da produção agroalimentar e à educação alimentar e nutricional que valorizem os alimentos regionais, além daquelas voltadas à garantia do acesso aos serviços de saúde, constituem estratégias potenciais para reduzir a pobreza e a má nutrição. Coletivamente, os dados destacam a importância de estudos interdisciplinares para melhor caracterizar as comunidades tradicionais, a fim de fornecer dados relevantes para políticas públicas adequadas.

Chronic sequelae and disabilities are one of the main problems in leprosy. The current study aimed to estimate the prevalence of disabilities in leprosy patients after successfully completing multidrug therapy in Araguaína, Tocantins State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study including 282 cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2009. The degrees of disability at diagnosis and at discharge from treatment were collected from medical records and the National Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN). A simplified neurological workup was performed after discharge from treatment. The prevalence of disabilities at diagnosis was 29.4%, and 8.9% of then was grade II. Between diagnosis and discharge, the degree of physical disability worsened in 25% of cases. At diagnosis, the proportion of deformities was significantly higher in men (RR = 1.7; 95%CI: 1.23-2.37). There was a significant association between disability and multibacillary disease (p < 0.001) and occurrence of reactions (p < 0.001). The data show that after discharge from multidrug therapy, in order to prevent chronic sequelae and functional limitations, continuous monitoring is still needed for individuals that have been recorded as cured and thus deleted from the records.

Within the national development framework and following the growth projections of the different sectors demanding energy, the government of Brazil has prioritized the construction of several river dams, considering the availability of natural resources in each region. The main objective was to infer the effects of the flooding of areas due to the construction of the Estreito Hydroelectrical Dam, located in the state of Maranhão, on the health of the inhabitants of the Babaçulandia municipality in the neighboring State of Tocantins. The study is based on diarrhea notifications generated by the Basic Health Unit of the municipality. The data obtained directly from the department of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATA/SUS), for the period 2007-2016, were analyzed by an ANOVA test. Results showed a significant increase in the number of diarrhea cases in 2012, year in which the hydroelectrical plant started its operations. The study highlights the necessity of further studies in the same population to unravel possible connections between the effects of the dam and climate characteristics in this region.