02042nas a2200217   4500000000100000008004100001653002200042653001200064653001500076653002700091653002200118100001500140700001300155700002500168700001300193700001200206700001400218245014000232520143800372022001401810       2017                            d10aRepublic of Sudan10aleprosy10aIndicators10aEpidemiological trends10aContact screening1 aPuchner KP1 aParisi S1 aSchwienhorst-Stich E1 aKasang C1 aSalah M1 aTanyous E00aTrends and patterns in leprosy in nine states of the Republic of the Sudan 7 years after the introduction of routine contact screening.3 a<div><strong>Background </strong>This paper analyzes the trends of key indicators reflecting the epidemiological situation of leprosy in nine different states of the Republic of the Sudan after the introduction of a systematic contact screening in 2010.</div>

<div><strong>Methods </strong>The routinely assessed data from the leprosy control program from 2010 to 2016 were analyzed.</div>

<div><strong>Results </strong>Despite, intense contact screening, the overall number of new cases detected showed a decreasing trend. The female:male ratio among new cases was constantly low. The overall average number of contacts needed to screen in order to detect a new case among contacts was 64. However, this number varied significantly in the nine states under investigation, with the best yield being observed in the state with the lowest case detection rate.</div>

<div><strong>Conclusions </strong>The total number of new cases of leprosy in nine states of the Republic of the Sudan has shown declining tendencies since 2010. Our data are not suggestive of a significant impact of contact screening on the trends of leprosy key indicators. Overall, contact screening proved to be efficient in most states, including those that exhibited very low annual new case detection rates (ANCDRs). Sensitization of personnel undergoing training and measures improving access of females to leprosy services are urgently needed.</div>
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