@article{104234,
  keywords = {Senegal, Mining, Agriculture, environmental transmission, anthropization, Mycobacterium leprae , leprosy},
  author = {Ndiaye A and C S and G G},
  title = {Anthropogenic activities and the regional distribution of leprosy in Senegal: an ecological analysis of agricultural and mining activities.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Objectives</strong></p>

<p>To investigate the association between anthropogenic environmental changes, particularly agricultural and mining activities, and the spatial distribution of leprosy in Senegal.</p>

<p><strong>Methods</strong></p>

<p>An ecological study was conducted across the 14 administrative regions using national surveillance data and cases detected through active case-finding (2020–2022). Agricultural intensity was scored from 0 (urban) to 4 (very high), and mining activity was classified by regional intensity. Associations with leprosy case counts were assessed using correlation, ANOVA, and linear regression.</p>

<p><strong>Results</strong></p>

<p>Agricultural intensity was strongly associated with regional leprosy case counts (Spearman’s ρ = 0.915, p &lt; 0.001). Linear regression explained 48.6% of case-count variation (R² = 0.486, p = 0.006), with each unit increase in agricultural intensity associated with 81.85 additional cases. The Bassin Arachidier accounted for 68.2% of cases across four of 14 regions. Mining activity was also positively associated with leprosy cases (ρ = 0.647, p = 0.012), with significant differences across mining levels (ANOVA: F₂,₁₁ = 4.23, p = 0.041).</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions</strong></p>

<p>Higher agricultural and mining intensity were associated with greater regional leprosy case counts. These ecological findings support further investigation of anthropogenic environmental factors in leprosy distribution.</p>
},
  year = {2026},
  journal = {IJID Regions},
  pages = {1 - 23},
  month = {10/2026},
  publisher = {Elsevier BV},
  issn = {2772-7076},
  url = {https://regions.ijidonline.org/action/showPdf?pii=S2772-7076%2826%2900205-5},
  doi = {10.1016/j.ijregi.2026.101043},
  language = {ENG},
}