01669nas a2200301   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653001600059653001100075653002100086653003400107653001100141653001400152653001200166653001500178653002300193100001800216700001600234700001200250700001300262700001500275700001400290245014600304300001100450490000700461520088500468022001401353       2009                            d  c2009 Nov-Dec10aAge Factors10aBrazil10aEndemic Diseases10aHealth Planning Organizations10aHumans10aIncidence10aleprosy10aPrevalence10aProgram evaluation1 aMastrangelo G1 aScoizzato L1 aFadda E1 aSilva GV1 aSantos LDJ1 aCegolon L00aEpidemiological pattern of leprosy in an endemic area of North-East Brazil, 1996-2005: the supporting role of a Nongovernmental Organization.  a629-320 v423 a<p>In an endemic area of North-East Brazil (the town of Picos, State of Piauí), a nongovernmental organization (NGO) supported the activity against leprosy in connection with governmental health organizations and local agents. The indicators of leprosy elimination were compared over time (within Picos) and across space (Picos versus Piauí). The case detection rate, above 8 per 10,000 people in the last two years of observation, increased over time in Picos (p=0.010). This finding could be due to active detection activities rather than expanding endemicity, as suggested by the reduction in leprosy in children (p=0.053) and the decrease in the proportion of new cases with grade 2 disability (p<0.001). These indicators showed a more favorable time trend in the city than in the State, suggesting that NGO activity was supportive in the battle towards leprosy control.</p>  a1678-9849