Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study

In Brazil, leprosy is endemic and concentrated in high-risk clusters. Internal migration is common in the country and may influence leprosy transmission and hamper control efforts. We performed a cross-sectional study with two separate analyses evaluating factors associated with migration in Brazil’...

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Main Authors: C. Murto, C. Kaplan, L. Ariza, K. Schwarz, C. H. Alencar, L. M. M. da Costa, J. Heukelbach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2013-01-01
Series:Journal of Tropical Medicine
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/495076
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author C. Murto
C. Kaplan
L. Ariza
K. Schwarz
C. H. Alencar
L. M. M. da Costa
J. Heukelbach
author_facet C. Murto
C. Kaplan
L. Ariza
K. Schwarz
C. H. Alencar
L. M. M. da Costa
J. Heukelbach
author_sort C. Murto
collection DOAJ
description In Brazil, leprosy is endemic and concentrated in high-risk clusters. Internal migration is common in the country and may influence leprosy transmission and hamper control efforts. We performed a cross-sectional study with two separate analyses evaluating factors associated with migration in Brazil’s Northeast: one among individuals newly diagnosed with leprosy and the other among a clinically unapparent population with no symptoms of leprosy for comparison. We included 394 individuals newly diagnosed with leprosy and 391 from the clinically unapparent population. Of those with leprosy, 258 (65.5%) were birth migrants, 105 (26.6%) were past five-year migrants, and 43 (10.9%) were circular migrants. In multivariate logistic regression, three independent factors were found to be significantly associated with migration among those with leprosy: (1) alcohol consumption, (2) separation from family/friends, and (3) difficulty reaching the healthcare facility. Separation from family/friends was also associated with migration in the clinically unapparent population. The health sector may consider adapting services to meet the needs of migrating populations. Future research is needed to explore risks associated with leprosy susceptibility from life stressors, such as separation from family and friends, access to healthcare facilities, and alcohol consumption to establish causal relationships.
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spelling doaj-art-62f45c8f5a6b4524bccc79b6a094929a2025-08-20T03:34:40ZengWileyJournal of Tropical Medicine1687-96861687-96942013-01-01201310.1155/2013/495076495076Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional StudyC. Murto0C. Kaplan1L. Ariza2K. Schwarz3C. H. Alencar4L. M. M. da Costa5J. Heukelbach6Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, University of Basel, 4002 Basel, SwitzerlandHamovitch Center for Science in the Human Services, School of Social Work, University of Southern California, 1150 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015, USADepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 60430-140 Fortaleza, CE, BrazilSchool of Medicine, University of Cologne, Cologne, GermanyDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 60430-140 Fortaleza, CE, BrazilLeprosy Control Program, State Health Secretariat of Maranhão, 65076 Sao Luis, MA, BrazilDepartment of Community Health, School of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, 60430-140 Fortaleza, CE, BrazilIn Brazil, leprosy is endemic and concentrated in high-risk clusters. Internal migration is common in the country and may influence leprosy transmission and hamper control efforts. We performed a cross-sectional study with two separate analyses evaluating factors associated with migration in Brazil’s Northeast: one among individuals newly diagnosed with leprosy and the other among a clinically unapparent population with no symptoms of leprosy for comparison. We included 394 individuals newly diagnosed with leprosy and 391 from the clinically unapparent population. Of those with leprosy, 258 (65.5%) were birth migrants, 105 (26.6%) were past five-year migrants, and 43 (10.9%) were circular migrants. In multivariate logistic regression, three independent factors were found to be significantly associated with migration among those with leprosy: (1) alcohol consumption, (2) separation from family/friends, and (3) difficulty reaching the healthcare facility. Separation from family/friends was also associated with migration in the clinically unapparent population. The health sector may consider adapting services to meet the needs of migrating populations. Future research is needed to explore risks associated with leprosy susceptibility from life stressors, such as separation from family and friends, access to healthcare facilities, and alcohol consumption to establish causal relationships.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/495076
spellingShingle C. Murto
C. Kaplan
L. Ariza
K. Schwarz
C. H. Alencar
L. M. M. da Costa
J. Heukelbach
Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Tropical Medicine
title Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Factors Associated with Migration in Individuals Affected by Leprosy, Maranhão, Brazil: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort factors associated with migration in individuals affected by leprosy maranhao brazil an exploratory cross sectional study
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/495076
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