Júlia Moreira Pescarini|Agostino Strina|Joilda Silva Nery|Lacita Menezes Skalinski|Kaio Vinícius Freitas de Andrade|Maria Lúcia Fernandes Penna|Elizabeth B Brickley|Laura C. Rodrigues|Maurício Lima Barreto|Gerson Oliveira Penna
Socioeconomic risk markers of leprosy in high-burden countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Fundação Oswaldo Cruz|Fundação Oswaldo Cruz|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco|Fundação Oswaldo Cruz|Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Instituto de Saúde|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Instituto de Saúde|Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana|Universidade Federal Fluminense|Instituto de Saúde|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine|Fundação Oswaldo Cruz|Universidade Federal da Bahia|Instituto de Saúde|Universidade de Brasília
200000 new cases leprosy detected year approximately 7 associated grade2 disabilities g2ds achieving leprosy elimination one main challenges targeting higher risk groups within endemic communities nevertheless socioeconomic risk markers leprosy remain poorly understood address gap systematically reviewed medlinepubmed embase lilacs web science original articles investigating social determinants leprosy countries 1000 casesyear least five years 2006 2016 cohort casecontrol crosssectional ecological studies eligible inclusion qualitative studies case reports reviews excluded 1534 nonduplicate records 96 fulltext articles reviewed 39 met inclusion criteria 17 included randomeffects metaanalyses sex occupation food shortage household contact crowding lack clean ie treated water majority studies conducted brazil india bangladesh none undertaken lowincome countries descriptive synthesis indicated increased age poor sanitary socioeconomic conditions lower level education foodinsecurity risk markers leprosy additionally pooled estimates leprosy associated male rr 133 95 ci 106167 performing manual labor rr 215 95 ci 097474 suffering food shortage past rr 139 95 ci 105185 household contact leprosy patient rr 340 95 ci 224518 living crowded household 5 per household rr 138 95 ci 114167 lack clean water appear risk marker leprosy rr 094 95 ci 065135 additionally ecological studies provided evidence lower inequality better human development increased healthcare coverage cash transfer programs linked lower leprosy risks findings point consistent relationship leprosy unfavorable economic circumstances thereby underscore pressing need leprosy control policies target socially vulnerable groups highburden countries