Abstract

ROCHA, Margarida Cristiana Napoleão  and  GARCIA, Leila Posenato. Epidemiological investigation of reported deaths having as the primary cause of leprosy occured in Fortaleza, Ceará, 2006-2011. Epidemiol. Serv. Saúde [online]. 2014, vol.23, n.2, pp.277-286. ISSN 1679-4974.

OBJECTIVE: to describe the characteristics of deaths occurring in selected hospitals in Fortaleza, CE, Brazil, having leprosy recorded as the underlying cause. METHODS: this is a descriptive case series study of deaths recorded on the Mortality Information System (SIM) between 2006-2011. The study was conducted by a trained multidisciplinary team using a standardized instrument to examine inpatient and outpatient medical records. RESULTS: 11 of the 19 deaths investigated were confirmed to have occurred owing to leprosy complications. The majority of these were males (n=9) and people with black/brown skin color or race (n=10). The most frequent reason for their hospitalization was leprosy reaction (n=8). CONCLUSION: the study confirmed the number of deaths caused by leprosy complications, as well as the existence of deaths from other causes recorded as being due to leprosy.

Keywords : Leprosy/mortality; Mortality Registries; Information Systems; Descriptive Epidemiology.

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