01798nas a2200253   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001100055653001200066653001500078653001300093100001500106700001900121700001700140700001700157700001500174700001700189245010300206856004100309300000900350490000700359520116400366022001401530       1996                            d  c1996 Mar10aHumans10aleprosy10aPrevalence10aThailand1 aSchreuder 1 aPinitsoontorn 1 aChirawatkul 1 aSrisaenpang 1 aPiyasilpa 1 aSaowakontha 00aRapid village survey to determine the size of the leprosy problem in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v64n1a07.pdf  a51-70 v643 a<p>The rapid village survey (RVS) method has been developed as a simpler, less-expensive alternative to random sample surveys for determining the prevalence of leprosy and was compared with a total population survey (TVS). In the RVS, the cluster population receives clear information about the disease, and those with symptoms are invited to be examined by the survey team. A list of household contacts and suspects was made and those on the list were actively traced. The registered population was 20,815; 10 new patients were found among the 2034 people self-reporting in the RVS, 0 among the household contacts and suspects, and an additional 2 new patients in the TVS. There were 12 registered patients among the sample population. The prevalence rate found by the RVS was 1.06 per 1000(95% CI = 0.49-1.63) and in the TVS 1.16 per 1000 (95% CI = 0.5-1.77). The man-days and costs of an RVS are considerably less than those for a TVS. It was concluded that the RVS is a valid replacement for the TVS as conducted in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand. The RVS can be applied under low-endemic conditions and could be carried out by the general health staff.</p>  a0148-916X