Epidemiological trend of leprosy in Sudan, 2017-2020: a retrospective national analysis

Abstract

Introduction This study assesses the epidemiological trend of leprosy in Sudan from 2017 to 2020. Methods A retrospective cross-sectional analysis was conducted for a period of four years per state using national surveillance data. Variables included case counts across 16 states. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 20. Results From 2017 to 2020, 2,174 leprosy cases were reported in Sudan. Cases were predominantly male (55.5%) and individuals aged 45–64 years (30.6%). Geographically, the highest caseload was in Gedaref (15.9%) and West Kordofan (15.8%) states. A significant decline in new cases was observed, from 845 in 2017 to 242 in 2020. Conclusion Leprosy remains a public health threat in Sudan, with a specific geographic distribution. While the declining trend in new cases is encouraging, the persistent case load, particularly among older adults and in high-burden states, underscores the need for sustained control efforts.