02144nas a2200397   4500000000100000008004100001260000900042653001500051653001000066653000900076653001400085653001000099653001100109653003100120653003100151653003700182653001100219653001200230653000900242653000900251653001600260653001300276653001600289653002600305653002600331100001200357700002000369700001800389700001500407700001900422245010100441300001100542490000700553520117200560022001401732       1999                            d  c199910aAdolescent10aAdult10aAged10aBlindness10aChild10aFemale10aFoot Deformities, Acquired10aHand Deformities, Acquired10aHealth Services Needs and Demand10aHumans10aleprosy10aMale10aMali10aMiddle Aged10aNeuritis10aOccupations10aRetrospective Studies10aSocioeconomic Factors1 aSow S O1 aTiendrebéogo A1 aHamed Oould B1 aLienhart C1 aPonnighaus J M00a[Disabilities observed in new cases of leprosy diagnosed in the Bamako district (Mali) in 1994].  a161-700 v113 a<p>Our study concerns 244 new cases of leprosy diagnosed in the Bamako district in 1994. 154/244 patients could be contacted and were examined in the Leprosy Department of the Marchoux Institute in Bamako. Results showed that the presence of leprosy induced physical disabilities was associated with male gender (59%), advanced age (68%) and multibacillary disease (68%). Disabilities were also more frequent among patients having a rural or manual occupation at the time of screening or afterwards. There was a significant increase (p < 0.001) in the prevalence of disabilities when comparing patients at the time of diagnosis (29%) and thereafter (48%). This means that in 40% of disability cases, lesions developed during or after the treatment. Disabilities were predominantly observed in hands (33%) and feet (29%) with more frequent lesions in lateral popliteal, superior ulnar and posterior tibial nerves. Our results seem to demonstrate the inadequacy of preventive measures and management. This stresses the need for adequate prevention and therapy of leprosy induced disabilities in order to obtain proper eradication of leprosy induced health problems.</p>  a0001-5938