[Incidence of Hansen's disease in the State of São Paulo in 1978].

The authors describe and evaluate the distribution of 2.081 new cases of Hanseniasis, recorded in the State of São Paulo (Brazil) in 1978, according to the following personal characteristics of the patient: sex, age, place of birth, education level and housing. The distribution of the cases according to some characteristics related to the disease and to health care, are also described and discussed: clinical types of the disease, duration of the disease, occasion and manner in which the patient sought for health care (spontaneously or not). The geographic distribution of cases and the secular trend of new cases recorded in the last 10 years, are also presented and discussed.