Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021

Anneke T. Taal; Avilash Chakrawarti; Nand Lal Banstola; Anil Kumar; Bikash Man Singh; Rabindra Baskota; Wim H. van Brakel; Jan Hendrik Richardus; David J. Blok

doi:10.47276/lr.93.4.348

Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021

Anneke T. Taal^*, Avilash Chakrawarti, Nand Lal Banstola, Anil Kumar, Bikash Man Singh, Rabindra Baskota, Wim H. van Brakel, Jan Hendrik Richardus, David J. Blok

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Summary Objective Although elimination of leprosy was achieved in Nepal at national level in 2009, around 3000 new cases are still detected every year and 5% of these cases have Grade 2 disability (G2D). This study aims to describe the geographical distribution of leprosy new case detection (NCD) and G2D from 2010 to 2021 in two leprosy endemic provinces in Nepal. Methods We collected the geolocations and leprosy-related data of patients registered from 2010 to 2021 in Provinces 1 and 7. The geographical distribution of NCD and G2D was analysed in Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) at district, municipality and ward level, and we calculated the trends in Eye Hand Foot (EHF) impairment scores among cases with disabilities. Results From 2010 to 2021, a decrease in NCD and G2D cases was identified in Province 1, and an increase in NCD and G2D cases in Province 7. Geographical variations were visible between wards within highly endemic districts in both provinces. The mean EHF score in cases with disability increased from 1.7 in 2017 to 2.5 in 2020 in Province 1 and fluctuated between 2.3 and 4.5 in Province 7. Conclusions This study shows that the leprosy problem is still current in Nepal. Geographic variations in case detection and disability indicators are seen best when mapping at ward level. Leprosy programme managers can use the maps to develop long-term strategies at district, municipality or ward level that include intensified active case finding, preventive treatment and disability services, while considering costs and efficient use of resources.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	348-363
Number of pages	16
Journal	Leprosy Review
Volume	93
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.47276/lr.93.4.348
Publication status	Published - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Funding for this study was provided through the COR-NTD project ‘Geospatial methods of clustering leprosy case data for effective rollout or implementation of both PEP and new case detection initiatives’ by UK Aid-Department for International Development (DFID) through the Task Force for Global Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, data interpretation, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© The author(s).

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Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021Final published version, 1.05 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{de920c7f2d744936b118d7182bea5f4b,

title = "Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021",

abstract = "Summary Objective Although elimination of leprosy was achieved in Nepal at national level in 2009, around 3000 new cases are still detected every year and 5% of these cases have Grade 2 disability (G2D). This study aims to describe the geographical distribution of leprosy new case detection (NCD) and G2D from 2010 to 2021 in two leprosy endemic provinces in Nepal. Methods We collected the geolocations and leprosy-related data of patients registered from 2010 to 2021 in Provinces 1 and 7. The geographical distribution of NCD and G2D was analysed in Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) at district, municipality and ward level, and we calculated the trends in Eye Hand Foot (EHF) impairment scores among cases with disabilities. Results From 2010 to 2021, a decrease in NCD and G2D cases was identified in Province 1, and an increase in NCD and G2D cases in Province 7. Geographical variations were visible between wards within highly endemic districts in both provinces. The mean EHF score in cases with disability increased from 1.7 in 2017 to 2.5 in 2020 in Province 1 and fluctuated between 2.3 and 4.5 in Province 7. Conclusions This study shows that the leprosy problem is still current in Nepal. Geographic variations in case detection and disability indicators are seen best when mapping at ward level. Leprosy programme managers can use the maps to develop long-term strategies at district, municipality or ward level that include intensified active case finding, preventive treatment and disability services, while considering costs and efficient use of resources.",

author = "Taal, {Anneke T.} and Avilash Chakrawarti and Banstola, {Nand Lal} and Anil Kumar and Singh, {Bikash Man} and Rabindra Baskota and {van Brakel}, {Wim H.} and Richardus, {Jan Hendrik} and Blok, {David J.}",

note = "Funding Information: Funding for this study was provided through the COR-NTD project {\textquoteleft}Geospatial methods of clustering leprosy case data for effective rollout or implementation of both PEP and new case detection initiatives{\textquoteright} by UK Aid-Department for International Development (DFID) through the Task Force for Global Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, data interpretation, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The author(s).",

year = "2022",

doi = "10.47276/lr.93.4.348",

language = "English",

volume = "93",

pages = "348--363",

journal = "Leprosy Review",

issn = "0305-7518",

publisher = "British Leprosy Relief Association",

number = "4",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021

AU - Taal, Anneke T.

AU - Chakrawarti, Avilash

AU - Banstola, Nand Lal

AU - Kumar, Anil

AU - Singh, Bikash Man

AU - Baskota, Rabindra

AU - van Brakel, Wim H.

AU - Richardus, Jan Hendrik

AU - Blok, David J.

N1 - Funding Information: Funding for this study was provided through the COR-NTD project ‘Geospatial methods of clustering leprosy case data for effective rollout or implementation of both PEP and new case detection initiatives’ by UK Aid-Department for International Development (DFID) through the Task Force for Global Health. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, data interpretation, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © The author(s).

PY - 2022

Y1 - 2022

N2 - Summary Objective Although elimination of leprosy was achieved in Nepal at national level in 2009, around 3000 new cases are still detected every year and 5% of these cases have Grade 2 disability (G2D). This study aims to describe the geographical distribution of leprosy new case detection (NCD) and G2D from 2010 to 2021 in two leprosy endemic provinces in Nepal. Methods We collected the geolocations and leprosy-related data of patients registered from 2010 to 2021 in Provinces 1 and 7. The geographical distribution of NCD and G2D was analysed in Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) at district, municipality and ward level, and we calculated the trends in Eye Hand Foot (EHF) impairment scores among cases with disabilities. Results From 2010 to 2021, a decrease in NCD and G2D cases was identified in Province 1, and an increase in NCD and G2D cases in Province 7. Geographical variations were visible between wards within highly endemic districts in both provinces. The mean EHF score in cases with disability increased from 1.7 in 2017 to 2.5 in 2020 in Province 1 and fluctuated between 2.3 and 4.5 in Province 7. Conclusions This study shows that the leprosy problem is still current in Nepal. Geographic variations in case detection and disability indicators are seen best when mapping at ward level. Leprosy programme managers can use the maps to develop long-term strategies at district, municipality or ward level that include intensified active case finding, preventive treatment and disability services, while considering costs and efficient use of resources.

AB - Summary Objective Although elimination of leprosy was achieved in Nepal at national level in 2009, around 3000 new cases are still detected every year and 5% of these cases have Grade 2 disability (G2D). This study aims to describe the geographical distribution of leprosy new case detection (NCD) and G2D from 2010 to 2021 in two leprosy endemic provinces in Nepal. Methods We collected the geolocations and leprosy-related data of patients registered from 2010 to 2021 in Provinces 1 and 7. The geographical distribution of NCD and G2D was analysed in Quantum Geographic Information Systems (QGIS) at district, municipality and ward level, and we calculated the trends in Eye Hand Foot (EHF) impairment scores among cases with disabilities. Results From 2010 to 2021, a decrease in NCD and G2D cases was identified in Province 1, and an increase in NCD and G2D cases in Province 7. Geographical variations were visible between wards within highly endemic districts in both provinces. The mean EHF score in cases with disability increased from 1.7 in 2017 to 2.5 in 2020 in Province 1 and fluctuated between 2.3 and 4.5 in Province 7. Conclusions This study shows that the leprosy problem is still current in Nepal. Geographic variations in case detection and disability indicators are seen best when mapping at ward level. Leprosy programme managers can use the maps to develop long-term strategies at district, municipality or ward level that include intensified active case finding, preventive treatment and disability services, while considering costs and efficient use of resources.

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DO - 10.47276/lr.93.4.348

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SN - 0305-7518

VL - 93

SP - 348

EP - 363

JO - Leprosy Review

JF - Leprosy Review

IS - 4

ER -

Trends and geographical variation in leprosy case detection and disability in Nepal, 2010–2021

Abstract

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