OBJECTIVE:

To analyze the spatial distribution of leprosy in Mosqueiro, the 1st Administrative District of Belém, Pará State, Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cross-sectional and ecological study, using data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (Sinan) of the Municipality of Belém, from 2007 to 2013, and the 2010 Census, from the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). Spatial analysis of relations among the leprosy detection rate, the living conditions index (LCI), and the coverage of Brazil's Family Health Strategy (FHS) were done.

RESULTS:

The annual incidence rate of new cases showed a decreasing trend, with an outbreak in 2009. However, the average endemicity of the disease was high. The characteristics of the most affected individuals were male (66.67%), elementary school (66.67%), 16-59 age group (82.05%), urban area of residence (74.36%), zero degree of physical disability (53.84%), multibacillary form (76.92%), new cases (64.10%), and medical referral (38.46%). Spatial distribution of leprosy was not homogeneous in the FHS territories, presenting areas with active transmission of that disease, with new multibacillary cases without treatment, very high pattern of endemicity and very low LCI, such as Maracajá, Carananduba and Baia do Sol.

CONCLUSION:

The spatial analysis using kernel and map algebra were effective for constructing the epidemiological scenario of leprosy in Mosqueiro. It is important to emphasize the need of expanding the coverage of FHS in order to improve the control actions of that disease produced under the bad logic of social inequities.

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