02652nas a2200373   4500000000100000008004100001260001200042653001700054653003100071653001200102100001500114700001800129700001300147700001400160700001300174700001200187700001100199700001200210700001500222700001300237700001300250700001300263700001400276700001500290700001200305700001300317700001100330245008700341856006600428300001200494490000700506520175100513022001402264       2023                            d  c06/202310aEpidemiology10aHealth information systems10aleprosy1 aDa Silva J1 aDe Oliveira R1 aSantos L1 aPascoal L1 aSantos F1 aCosta A1 aDias I1 aRolim I1 aFontoura I1 aGordon A1 aLobato J1 aSantos F1 aBezerra J1 aFontoura V1 aRamos A1 aSantos L1 aNeto M00aFactors associated with multibacillary leprosy in a region of northeastern Brazil.  uhttps://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/37406066/3111  a846-8530 v173 a<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>The analysis of factors associated with multibacillary leprosy is important for the development of strategies to mitigate the disease, which persists as a public health problem in Brazil and the world. The objective of this study was to verify the associations between sociodemographic and clinical-epidemiological variables and multibacillary leprosy in the state of northeastern Brazil.</p>

<p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and retrospective study, with a quantitative approach, carried out in 16 municipalities in the southwest of Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil. All cases of leprosy reported between January 2008 and December 2017 were considered. Sociodemographic and clinical-epidemiological variables were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The identification of the risk factors associated with multibacillary leprosy was conducted using Poisson regression models. The prevalence ratios and respective 95% confidence intervals were estimated using regression coefficients at a 5% significance level.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 3,903 leprosy cases were analyzed. Individuals older than 15 years, males, with less than 8 years of education, with level I, II, or "not evaluated" disability, and with type 1 or 2 or both reactional states were more likely to have multibacillary leprosy. Therefore, these characteristics may be considered risk factors. No protective factors were identified.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The investigation revealed important associations between risk factors and multibacillary leprosy. The findings can be considered during the creation of strategies to control and combat the disease.</p>
  a1972-2680