Abstract
Leprosy is a communicable disease which can cause hideous deformities to the afflicted and social stigmatization to them and their families. The continued high endemicity of leprosy in pockets of Sub-Saharan Africa is a source of bafflement to researchers. In this paper, we investigate non-compliant behavior by patients on treatment and possible inadequacy of the prescribed treatments as the reason for the persistence of the disease in the region. We construct theoretical, deterministic mathematical models of the transmission dynamics of leprosy. These models are modified to encapsulate non-compliance and inadequate treatment. The models are then analyzed to gain insight into the qualitative features of the equilibrium states, which enable us to determine the basic reproduction number. We also employ analytical and numerical techniques to investigate the impact of non-compliance and inadequate treatment on the transmission dynamics of the disease. Our results show that, as long as there is treatment, leprosy will eventually be eliminated from the region and that the disposition under investigation only serves to slow the rate at which the disease is eradicated.
Highlights
Leprosy, under guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been successfully eliminated elsewhere
As long as there is treatment, leprosy will eventually be eliminated from the region and that the disposition under investigation only serves to slow the rate at which the disease is eradicated
We propose a deterministic SEIR model with respect to paucibacillary leprosy (PB) and an SEI model with respect to multibacillary leprosy (MB) when no treatment and control measures are put in place
Summary
Under guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO), has been successfully eliminated elsewhere. Most previously highly endemic countries have reached elimination (defined as a registered prevalence rate of less than one case per 10,000 populations). At the beginning of 2009, pockets of high endemicity still remained in Angola, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nepal, United Republic of Tanzania, and Brazil. These 9 countries account for 88% of all new cases. Leprosy or Hansen’s disease is a chronic disease which has plagued mankind for at least 4000 years. It is caused by the pathogen, Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae). Defined as the recurrence of the disease after completion of the treatment [2]
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