Low level of schooling is associated with an increase in physical disabilities at diagnosis of leprosy in Jequitinhonha Valley

Abstract

Introduction: leprosy is an infectious disease whose diagnosis, when performed late, results in neural damage and physical disabilities that restrict the individual's social participation and contribute to stigma and discrimination. In addition, environmental, socioeconomic and individual risk factors can contribute to vulnerability to illness and evolution to physical disabilities. Objective: to analyze the influence of schooling on the occurrence of physical disabilities in the diagnosis of leprosy in the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais. Material and Methods: the present cross-sectional study was undertaken among leprosy patients diagnosed in the Jequitinhonha Valley from 2001 to 2017. The data was obtained from the SINAN (National Notifiable Diseases Information System). The dependent variable was the degree of physical disability in the diagnosis of leprosy and the explanatory variable was the educational level of the cases. Statistical analysis included the chi-square test, Spearman's correlation coefficient and odds ratio. Results: 1.940 cases of leprosy were reported in the Jequitinhonha Valley with an average detection rate of 47 cases/100.000 inhabitants. There was an inversely proportional correlation between the variables schooling and degree of disability with statistical significance (-0.17, p <0.0001). Individuals with no schooling were 82% more likely to have physical disabilities in the diagnosis of leprosy when compared to those with a low level (OR = 1.82; p = <.0001), the chance of disability was even higher when compared to a intermediate level of schooling (OR = 4.03, p <0.0001). Conclusion: the increase in the level of schooling reduced the chance of being diagnosed with physical disabilities in leprosy patients.