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  • Title: Preliminary assessment of multidrug therapy in leprosy patients in Western Samoa.
    Author: Paksoy N, Levi V.
    Journal: N Z Med J; 1989 Nov 08; 102(879):589-91. PubMed ID: 2812597.
    Abstract:
    Western Samoa is an island state in the Polynesian part of the South Pacific Ocean with a total population of around 160,000. In 5 July 1985 multidrug therapy (MDT) as advised by the WHO was started in leprosy patients there. One hundred and eighteen cases (99 males, 19 females) on the active list were included in the MDT programme. Sixty-three (53.3%) were paucibacillary and 55 (46.6%) were multibacillary. Eighteen patients (15.26%, 15 paucibacillary, 3 multibacillary) were below 15 years of age. In this paper we present a preliminary evaluation of WHO/MDT, in leprosy patients in Western Samoa as of 31 December 1987. Assessment was done on clinical, bacteriological and histopathological grounds. During the evaluation period the acceptance of MDT by Samoan patients was found adequate, even though surveillance is still continuing. As of 31 December 1987 there were 40 patients (34 male, 6 female) on the active list. Thirty-five (87.5%) were on multibacillary and 5 (12.5%) on paucibacillary regimen. Only 2 patients (both paucibacillary) were below 15 years of age. The prevalence rate was now estimated to be 0.25/1000. Leprosy cannot be considered to be a serious public health problem in the country. However there is still need for improvement in case-finding, recording and follow up matters.
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