Evaluation of leprosy epidemiology in 12 countries of the Americas, 1980-1983.

To assess the leprosy situation prevailing in 12 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean in 1980-1983, the authors reviewed data on eight indicators--four relating specifically to leprosy cases and four to general health conditions. On the basis of scores derived from these indicators, the 12 countries were classified into three groups wherein the leprosy endemic appeared to be declining, stationary, or increasing. Countries of the first group, where the leprosy endemic appeared to be receding, exhibited generally favorable leprosy-specific indicators and general health indicators, and the findings generally agreed with those of prior leprosy prevalence surveys. Similarly, those in the third group, where the endemic seemed to be increasing, showed generally unfavorable leprosy-specific indicators and general health indicators plus general agreement with prior leprosy prevalence surveys. In contrast, the results obtained for the three countries where the leprosy endemic seemed "stationary" differed substantially from one country to the next--but in all cases the "stationary" situation appeared to depend less upon a stable equilibrium than upon interaction of opposing trends.