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Undernutrition, food insecurity, and leprosy in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: A case-control study to identify infection risk factors associated with poverty

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  • Puneet Anantharam
  • Lisa E Emerson
  • Kassahun D Bilcha
  • Jessica K Fairley
  • Annisa B Tesfaye

Abstract

Background: Ethiopia has over 3,200 new cases of leprosy diagnosed every year. Prevention remains a challenge as transmission pathways are poorly understood. Susceptibility and disease manifestations are highly dependent on individual host-immune response. Nutritional deficiencies, such as protein-energy malnutrition, have been linked to reduced cell-mediated immunity, which in the case of leprosy, could lead to a higher chance of active leprosy and thus an increased reservoir of transmissible infection. Methodology/Principal findings: Between June and August 2018, recently diagnosed patients with leprosy and individuals without known contact with cases were enrolled as controls in North Gondar regional health centers. Participants answered survey questions on biometric data, demographics, socioeconomic situation, and dietary habits. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariate logisitic regression examined associations between undernutrition, specifically body mass index (BMI), middle upper arm circumference (MUAC), and leprosy. Eighty-one participants (40 cases of leprosy, 41 controls) were enrolled (75% male) with an average age of 38.6 years (SD 18.3). The majority of cases were multibacillary (MB) (90%). There was a high prevalence of undernutrition with 24 (29.6%) participants underweight (BMI

Suggested Citation

  • Puneet Anantharam & Lisa E Emerson & Kassahun D Bilcha & Jessica K Fairley & Annisa B Tesfaye, 2021. "Undernutrition, food insecurity, and leprosy in North Gondar Zone, Ethiopia: A case-control study to identify infection risk factors associated with poverty," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 15(6), pages 1-11, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pntd00:0009456
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009456
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Salma Oktaria & Norma Sofisa Hurif & Wardiansyah Naim & Hok Bing Thio & Tamar E C Nijsten & Jan Hendrik Richardus, 2018. "Dietary diversity and poverty as risk factors for leprosy in Indonesia: A case-control study," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(3), pages 1-15, March.
    2. Inge Wagenaar & Lisanne van Muiden & Khorshed Alam & Robert Bowers & Md Anwar Hossain & Kolpona Kispotta & Jan Hendrik Richardus, 2015. "Diet-Related Risk Factors for Leprosy: A Case-Control Study," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(5), pages 1-15, May.
    3. Sabiena G Feenstra & Quamrun Nahar & David Pahan & Linda Oskam & Jan Hendrik Richardus, 2011. "Recent Food Shortage Is Associated with Leprosy Disease in Bangladesh: A Case-Control Study," PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(5), pages 1-7, May.
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    1. Doua Ahmed & Pierina Benavente & Esperanza Diaz, 2023. "Food Insecurity among International Migrants during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Scoping Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-14, March.

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