Evaluation of the leprosy health surveillance system in Brazil, 2020 and 2021

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: An evaluative study of the leprosy surveillance system was conducted based on guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study assessed qualitative attributes (simplicity, data quality, and acceptability) and quantitative attributes (positive predictive value and timeliness), as well as the system’s utility. POPULATION AND METHODS: The study population consisted of all new confirmed cases of leprosy residing in Brazil in 2020 and 2021. This study utilized notifications from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and other databases to assist with tabulations and the definition of evaluation parameters for certain attributes. RESULTS: The system was assessed as complex, with high data quality for both criteria used (completeness and consistency), fair acceptability, high positive predictive value and timeliness, and was representative. Regarding utility, three objectives met the established target and only one did not; therefore, the system achieved a good result. DISCUSSION: The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic impacted the detection of new leprosy cases, as a reduction in the case detection rate was observed, and in the achievement of the target for new case notifications by Primary Health Care (PHC) in the assessment of the system’s utility. However, in the analysis of the other attributes, when compared to a study conducted before the pandemic, it was noted that there was no change in the results.