@article{7373,
  keywords = {Adult, Age Distribution, Female, Humans, India, leprosy, Male, Medical Records, Outpatient Clinics, Hospital, Referral and Consultation, Retrospective Studies, Sex Distribution},
  author = {Pandey A and Patel R and Rathod H},
  title = {Comparative profile of new leprosy cases coming to a referral institute in pre- and post-integration periods.},
  abstract = {<p>This article presents findings from a retrospective analysis of 3031 new leprosy cases attending the Out-patient Department of the Regional Leprosy Training and Research Institute, Raipur, Chhattisgarh, during the period January 2000-December 2005. The analysis was carried out in order to compare the profiles of new leprosy cases between pre- and post-integration periods. The cut-off date, in order to distinguish between the two groups, was determined as 31st December 2002. A comparison was made between the two groups on identified host- and disease-related variables and its significance was tested using suitable statistical tests. The results showed that there was more than 50% increase in the number of new leprosy cases coming to the OPD of the RLTRI during the post-integration period. The mean age at registration showed an increase of 0.9 years, while the proportion of child and female cases showed a decrease of 7.7% and 4.3% respectively during the same period. Significant decline was also recorded in the proportion of grade II deformity cases (11.8%) and cases with type I lepra reaction (11.4%) during the post-integration period. The study emphasizes the need for developing an effective referral mechanism and proper screening of cases at the PHC level for better utilization of referral institutions in a need-based manner.</p>},
  year = {2006},
  journal = {Indian journal of leprosy},
  volume = {78},
  pages = {339-46},
  month = {2006 Oct-Dec},
  issn = {0254-9395},
  language = {eng},
}