Epidemiological Overview of Leprosy in Brazil: Temporal Analysis between the Years 2013 and 2023
Marcela Raissa Asevedo Dergan *
State University of Pará, Brazil.
Lara dos Santos Cunha
State University of Pará, Brazil.
Ailson Almeida Veloso Junior
State University of Pará, Brazil.
Danielle Cristine de Ávila Arrais
North Paraná University, Brazil.
Benedito do Carmo Gomes Cantão
State University of Pará, Brazil.
Thiago Augusto Ferreira dos Anjos
Evandro Chagas Institute, Brazil.
Vera Regina da Cunha Menezes Palácios
State University of Pará, Brazil.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae, an acid-fast bacillus that acts as an intracellular parasite, showing a particular affinity for Schwann cells and skin tissues.
Aims: This study aims to analyze temporal trends and regional patterns of leprosy in Brazil from 2013 to 2023 to inform public health strategies and control efforts. Analyze leprosy indicators in the Brazilian population from 2013 to 2023. This is a retrospective descriptive study with a quantitative approach.
Methodology: State University of Pará, postgraduate program in parasitic biology in the Amazon, between january 2025 and october 2025. The study used national data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). The main epidemiological indicators of leprosy were calculated, such as the overall detection rate, detection in children under 15 years of age, prevalence, the proportion of grade 2 physical disability (GIF2), the rate of contact examinations, and the cure rate. The data were organized and cleaned in Excel 2016. To analyze trends over time, we applied a simple linear regression model and generated graphs of the annual series.
Results: Epidemiological data from SINAN were analyzed for the period between January 2013 and December 2023, revealing a gradual decline in the detection rate of new leprosy cases in Brazil (Fig. 1). In 2013, the rate was 15.44 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, dropping to 10.68 cases per 100,000 in 2023. Despite the overall decline, there were notable fluctuations in detection rates, particularly in 2019, when the rate reached 13.23 cases per 100,000, followed by a sharp drop in 2020 to 8.49 cases.
Conclusion: Leprosy remains a public health challenge, requiring ongoing investments in infrastructure, professional training, and equitable access to healthcare services. Integrated strategies aligned with other social policies can help reduce inequalities and facilitate treatment adherence.
Keywords: Lepra, epidemiology, public health, skin tissues, Mycobacterium leprae