02498nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001000055653002500065653001800090653002000108653002100128653001100149653001100160653001100171653001000182653001200192653000900204653002100213653002300234653001500257653001700272100001000289700001300299700001400312700001000326245014600336856005900482300001100541490000700552050003200559520151900591022001402110       2001                            d  c2001 Jun10aAdult10aAnalysis of Variance10aAnthropometry10aBody Mass Index10aDisabled Persons10aFemale10aHumans10aIncome10aIndia10aleprosy10aMale10aNeeds Assessment10aNutritional Status10aRegistries10aSocial Class1 aVaz M1 aDiffey B1 aJacob A J1 aVaz M00aShould nutritional status evaluation be included in the initial needs assessment of leprosy patients with disability prior to socio-economic.  uhttp://leprev.ilsl.br/pdfs/2001/v72n2/pdf/v72n2a11.pdf  a206-110 v72  aInfolep Library - available3 a<p>Because of the large numbers of leprosy patients with disability and the limited resources available, it is important that socio-economic rehabilitation (SER) is targeted towards those who are most in need. Towards this purpose, current assessments of leprosy patients prior to initiating SER include the evaluation of income, assets and household possessions. Conspicuously absent is the nutritional assessment of the patient. In the absence of weight loss associated with illness, population studies indicate that undernutrition reflects poor socio-economic conditions. In this study of 151 cured leprosy patients with disability, 57% of the patients were found to be undernourished using body mass index (kg/m2) derived from body weight and height, and 10% of the patients were severely undernourished (grade III). Undernutrition in the patients was poorly though significantly correlated with personal income (r = 0.18, P < 0.05). Total household income, reported amount of money spent on food and estimated cereal intakes were not correlated with the BMI of the patient, possibly due to reporting bias and other methodological issues. We propose the inclusion of nutritional status evaluation by anthropometry as part of the initial screening of leprosy patients prior to instituting SER. We believe that this simple and objective evaluation can add to the assessment of 'threat' of economic deprivation or actual economic 'dislocation', and thus help in the prioritization of leprosy patients for SER.</p>  a0305-7518