Exploring clustering of leprosy in the Comoros and Madagascar: a geospatial analysis

Nimer Ortuno-Gutierrez, Aboubacar Mzembaba, Stephanie Ramboarina, Randrianantoandro Andriamira, Abdallah Baco, Sofie Braet, Assoumani Younoussa, Bertrand Cauchoix, Zahara Salim, Mohamed Amidy, Saverio Grillone, Tahinamandranto Rasamoelina, Emmanuelle Cambau, Annemieke Geluk, Bouke C. de Jong, Jan Hendrik Richardus, Epco Hasker

Research output: Contribution to journalA1: Web of Science-articlepeer-review

12 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Objectives: To identify patterns of spatial clustering of leprosy. Design: We performed a baseline survey for a trial on post-exposure prophylaxis for leprosy in Comoros and Madagascar. We screened 64 villages, door-to-door, and recorded results of screening, demographic data and geographic coordinates. To identify clusters, we fitted a purely spatial Poisson model using Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic. We used a regular Poisson model to assess the risk of contracting leprosy at the individual level as a function of distance to the nearest known leprosy patient. Results: We identified 455 leprosy patients; 200 (4 4.0%) belonged to 2735 households included in a cluster. Thirty-eight percent of leprosy patients versus 10% of the total population live 100 m. Conclusions: We documented significant clustering of leprosy beyond household level, although 56% of cases were not part of a cluster. Control measures need to be extended beyond the household, and social networks should be further explored. (c) 2021 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of International Society for Infectious Diseases. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-ncnd/4.0/).

Original languageEnglish
JournalInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases
Volume108
Pages (from-to)96-101
Number of pages6
ISSN1201-9712
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2021

Keywords

  • Clustering
  • Leprosy
  • Active case finding
  • Spatial analysis
  • POSTEXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS
  • RIFAMPICIN
  • CONTACTS
  • DESIGN
  • TRIAL

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Exploring clustering of leprosy in the Comoros and Madagascar: a geospatial analysis'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this