[Epidemiological analysis of leprosy in an endemic state of northeastern Brazil].

OBJECTIVE To characterise the trend of leprosy according to epidemiological and operational indicators in the state of Paraíba in the period of 2001-2011 with projections for the years 2012-2014. METHODS An epidemiological, retrospective, documentary study of a temporal sequence conducted with 10,476 reported cases of leprosy diagnosed in adults between 2001 and 2011 in 223 municipalities in the state of Paraiba, Brazil. The results were composed and analysed using two epidemiological indicators, an operational indicator and statistical software. RESULTS The annual detection rate of new cases showed an upward slope between 2001 and 2005 and a declining trend from 2006. Disability showed a cyclic variation with a downward tendency and a medium level of efficiency. CONCLUSION The results show that the disease continues to be a problem in the state and reveal the need for shorter assessments that focus on health programmes and strategies that are used to fight leprosy.