02075nas a2200325   4500000000100000008004100001260001700042653002100059653002100080653002600101653001100127653001000138653001200148653001500160653003500175653002100210653002100231653002100252100001500273700001400288700001500302700001900317700001400336245011400350300001000464490000700474050001600481520123800497022001401735       2001                            d  c2001 Apr-Jun10aCluster Analysis10aEndemic Diseases10aEpidemiologic Methods10aHumans10aIndia10aleprosy10aPrevalence10aQuality Assurance, Health Care10aRural Population10aSampling Studies10aUrban Population1 aMurthy B N1 aSubbiah M1 aBoopathi K1 aRamakrishnan R1 aGupte M D00aLot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) for monitoring leprosy elimination in an endemic district in Tamilnadu.  a111-90 v73  aMURTHY 20013 a<p>This paper examines whether the health administration can use lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) for identifying high prevalence areas for leprosy for initiating necessary corrective measures. The null hypothesis was that leprosy prevalence in the district was at or above ten per 10,000 and the alternative hypothesis was that it was at or below five per 10,000. A total of 25,500 individuals were to be examined with 17 as an acceptable maximum number of cases (critical value). Two-stage cluster sample design was adopted. The sample size need not be escalated as the estimated design effect was 1. During the first phase, the survey covered a population of 4,837 individuals out of whom 4,329 (89.5%) were examined. Thirty-five cases were detected and this number far exceeded the critical value. It was concluded that leprosy prevalence in the district should be regarded as having prevalence of more than ten per 10,000 and further examination of the population in the sample was discontinued. LQAS may be used as a tool by which one can identify high prevalence districts and target them for necessary strengthening of the programme. It may also be considered for certifying elimination achievement for a given area.</p>  a0254-9395