Investigating the Changing Landscape of Leprosy Cases and Geospatial Analysis: A Study of High and Low Endemic Districts in Maharashtra, India

Despite significant reduction in prevalence of leprosy to elimination levels, achieving Leprosy Mukt Bharat by 2027 is still a far-fetched target. This article highlights trends and of distribution of leprosy in Gadchiroli (high endemic) and Sangli (low endemic) districts in Maharashtra, India between April 1, 2016 to November 31, 2022. The geospatial analysis revealed clustering of leprosy habitats in Gadchiroli comparatively more than Sangli where urban clusters of leprosy habitats were observed. In Sangli, there was a significantly higher proportion of multibacillary cases and grade I disabilities. Additionally, there was a noticeable shift in the age distribution of newly identified cases to the 36–65 years age group. In Gadchiroli, an increasing proportion of cases were observed in the 9–14 years age group. It suggests that environmental factors, socio-economic conditions, and healthcare access can influence age-specific patterns of leprosy transmission. Hence, understanding the intricacies of age shifting in leprosy cases is essential for developing tailored interventions within high and low endemic areas.