OBJECTIVES:

To identify the spatial distribution of leprosy cases in children under 15 years old, in Belém, Pará State, Brazil, from 2005 to 2014, correlating with socioeconomic indicators.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

An ecological study was conducted with 356 new cases registered in Belém, whose data were collected in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases. The following clinical and epidemiological variables were evaluated: sex, age group, operational classification, clinical form, degree of physical disability in the diagnosis, detection mode, and detection coefficient in children under 15 years old. Georeferencing was carried out from the address registered in the notification form, for the production of maps with neighborhood divisions, and the incidence rate was correlated with the socioeconomic data of each neighborhood, using linear regression.

RESULTS:

Belém was classified as hyperendemic for leprosy in children under 15 years old, and five districts with approximately 35% of cases. Of the 71 neighborhoods, 22 were considered hyperendemic due to the detection rate, and georeferencing identified two areas of clusters. The correlation of socioeconomic data showed significance for lack of income, absence of garbage collection, and absence of sewage collection.

CONCLUSION:

The leprosy distribution is not homogeneous in Belém, with the necessity to direct resources to the most vulnerable areas.

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