Factors associated with the development of physical disabilities in Hansen’s disease

Abstract

Hansen’s disease is probably the human disease that causes more damage. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between the occurrence of the association of grade 1 and 2 physical disabilities in Hansen’s disease, as well as implications of joint analysis and strength of association with independent demographic and clinical variables. This is a quantitative, descriptive, retrospective, population-based and documentary study developed from 2009 to 2014 in a Hansen’s disease reference center in Joao Pessoa, PB. It involved 414 medical records, the diagnosis and discharge data on socio-demographic, clinical and simplified neurological evaluation variables. Data were analyzed using descriptive (absolute frequency and percentage) and inferential (Chi-Square and Prevalence Ratio (PR) statistics techniques. Both in the diagnosis and discharge, low education level, multibacillary classification and presence of affected nerves were statistically associated to the development of disabilities (p <0.05). The gender showed association only at discharge (p <0.05). Male gender, low education level, multibacillary classification and presence of affected nerves were identified as factors associated with the development of disabilities, and the individuals were more likely to develop disabilities at discharge. There is a need for development of surveillance actions for the population group identified for the detection and early treatment of the disease. Higher chances of developing disabilities in the discharge period makes the promotion of guidelines that standardize the care of these individuals imperative.

Risk of disability among adult leprosy cases and determinants of delay in diagnosis in five states of India: A case-control study

“…Although several factors associated with the development of disabilities are addressed in the literature. However, studying the extent of each factor—alone or associated—empowers managers, health professionals and researchers in the implementation of preventive and curative strategies and would assist the leprosy programmers to prioritise the interventions [16]. The delayed presentation is a recognised risk factor for disability in leprosy and is the result of complex interactions between physical, social, economic and psychological factors [3,17].…”

Múltiplas dimensões da gestão do cuidado à hanseníase e os desafios para a eliminação

“…This disease, considered as age-old and neglected, illustrates the close relation between life conditions and the health-disease process. Therefore, protective processes may include lower social inequality, higher human development, broader health coverage and income transfer programs (11)(12)(14)(15)(16)(17) .…”

“…Social programs can produce benefits to vulnerable people, stimulating the use of health and education services and improving school attendance and health indexes while aiming at emancipating families in conditions of extreme poverty. Thus, countries with high leprosy endemicity and low human development should prioritize investment in research on its social determination, incorporating poverty eradication as an important component of health policies (11)(12)(14)(15)(17)(18) .…”

Sensitive Damage in Leprosy: A Longitudinal and Retrospective Study

“…This is due, mostly, to the resistance of this group to treatment and to the physician's search, leading to a late diagnosis. Thus, the risk of developing multibacillary forms and, consequently, neural lesions increases exponentially, which generally does not occur in female patients [11].…”