Aspectos epidemiológicos da hanseníase na região do Vale do Paraíba — São Paulo

Abstract

The "Paraiba Valley", a Division of the Public Health Service of the State of S. Paulo, Brazil, corresponds to the Third Administrative Region of the State. Its surface is 14 291 square kilometers and its population is estimated at 1 000 000 inhabitants. All data referring to hanseniasis patients since the beginning of the Service, in 1929, are given. The present prevalence is high (2:1000). A study was made in detail of the Sanitary District of the municipality of Taubaté in the 1967-1976 decade, focusing the increasing yield of indetermined cases through examination of contacts. The significant increase of the percentage of patients who spontaneously seek-out the Service is also noteworthy. Those facts are attributed to the end of compulsory isolation and to the results of the destigmatizing activities especially through the use of a new terminology.