[A socioeconomic characterization of leprosy patients at the dermatology clinic in Maracaibo, Venezuela: a case study]

This paper presents the socioeconomic characteristics of leprosy patients treated at the Dermatology Clinic in Maracaibo, Venezuela (U.D.S). The characteristics were obtained from a closed questionnaire given to 40 patients. Results indicate that this is mainly an adult male population, with a reasonable level of schooling who both work and belong to apparently well-established, stable family groups; their family income levels correspond to a lower or medium-low social class groups. In addition, the patients are mainly non-disabled, and clinical diagnoses are mostly of the lepromatous and borderline types. Any educational program targeting this group should take these socioeconomic characteristics into account in defining the kind of patients who receive treatment at U.D.S.