GEORREFERENCIAMENTO COMO FERRAMENTA PARA MANEJO DA HANSENÍASE EM UMA CIDADE ENDÊMICA DO INTERIOR DO NORDESTE

Abstract

This study analyzed the epidemiological and geographical profile of leprosy in the municipality of Teixeira de Freitas from 2018 to 2022. A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative approach was adopted, considering variables such as sex, age, clinical form, degree of disability, type, spatial distribution, and health regions. A total of 83 leprosy case records in the municipality were examined and compared with state-level data provided by the Bahia Notifiable Diseases Information System. Case spatialization and the generation of intensity maps (heat maps) were conducted using ArcGIS software. The results indicated a high detection rate of leprosy (57.1:100.000) among economically active male individuals, with a predominance of the dimorphic form of the disease. It was observed that 26.5% of patients presented some degree of disability at the time of diagnosis. The eastern zone of the municipality had the highest number of reported cases, while the heat map revealed a higher density of cases in central clusters. This study underscores the importance of identifying leprosy prevalence clusters and analyzing their sociodemographic and spatial determinants for a deeper understanding of the disease dynamics in Teixeira de Freitas, BA. The findings presented here provide essential epidemiological and spatial information to support future interventions targeting priority areas for leprosy control in the municipality.