01503nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001653001200042653002100054653001300075653001000088653002000098653001100118653001700129653001500146100001100161245010400172856003200276300001000308490000600318520096100324       1991                            d10aleprosy10aBlue Nile valley10aEthiopia10aOromo10aBlue Nile River10aDalati10aEpidemiology10aPrevalence1 aJira C00aThe prevalence of leprosy among different ethnic groups in the Blue Nile Valley of western Ethiopia  uhttp://tinyurl.com/y8bj85cx  a67-690 v53 a<p>An epidemiological study of leprosy among different ethnic groups in the Blue Nile valley of western Ethiopia was conducted to obtain baseline data on disease prevalence. A total of 1430 people in three villages were examined for clinical signs and symptoms of leprosy. History, physical examination and skin smears were done. The prevalence rate of leprosy was found to be the highest (53/1000) among the Nilotic people on the southern banks of the Blue Nile River, while the prevalence for Oromo people of the highest altitudes was near zero. For the Nilotic people of Dalati (altitude 1,200 m) the prevalence rate was 18/1000. Although it constitutes a major health problem in the lowlands, leprosy seems to be comparatively less prevalent in the highlands. Possible socio-cultural explanations for this epidemiological pattern of leprosy in Mendi District are discussed and suggestions for further investigation and control measures are given.</p>