DISTRIBUIÇÃO ESPACIAL DA HANSENÍASE NA AMAZÔNIA LEGAL MARANHENSE NO PERÍODO DE 2011 – 2021

Objective: To analyze the spatial distribution of leprosy cases in children under 15 years of age in the Legal Amazon region of Maranhão from 2011 to 2021. Methods: An ecological study using data from the national disease notification system. The unit of spatial analysis was the municipalities of the Amazon region in Maranhão; the Global Moran’s Index was calculated, a pseudo-significance test was performed, and cartographic representation was provided using a LISA map. Results: A total of 3,236 new cases were recorded, with detection rates ranging from 23.60 to 9.24 per 100,000 inhabitants. Areas with high disease occurrence were identified, and consistently high rates were observed in many municipalities. Conclusion: Spatial analysis identified municipalities in the Legal Amazon region of Maranhão with high leprosy detection rates in children under 15, showing that municipalities with higher occurrences also faced greater social inequalities within the state. These findings may support the development of public health policies in primary care, strengthening leprosy prevention and control actions.