SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF LEPROSY CASES IN RIBEIRÃO PRETO, BRAZIL, 2004

This cross-sectional study aimed to describe the spatial distribution of leprosy cases in Ribeirão Preto in 2004. The data collection was performed through compulsory notification records in the Epidemiological Surveillance Service of the Municipal Secretary of Health of Ribeirão Preto. The data were geo-coded through the MapInfo program version 7.8 in order to obtain the thematic map. From the 37 cases found, 62 % were automatically coded, which revealed good compatibility between the database and the information in the cartographic base. The remaining 38 % of the cases were geo-coded interactively. The thematic map analysis and the geo-referenced cases revealed a concentration of cases in the Northern region of the city, traditionally characterized by poor neighborhoods. DESCRIPTORS: leprosy; residence characteristics; epidemiologic surveillanc