THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF MALARIA IN THE MICROREGIONS OF MARAJÓ, PARÁ STATE, BRAZIL: A CROSS-SECTIONAL AND ECOLOGICAL STUDY
Abstract
This study aims to analyze the evolution of malaria incidence in seven municipalities of the Marajó Microregion in the State of Pará, during the period from 2018 to 2022, as well as to evaluate the occurrence of seasonality of the disease. Through the use of kernel interpolation, changes in the pattern of malaria distribution were found, especially in 2018 and 2019. A total of 51,926 cases of malaria were reported and confirmed in the seven municipalities located in three Microregions of Marajó, State of Pará, between 2018 and 2022. The analysis of the patient profile showed a higher percentage of male individuals (57.2%), of mixed race (79.4%), with Plasmodium vivax being the most frequently occurring species in the municipality (93.1%). These results showed statistical significance (p-value <0.05). The coverage of health establishments is heterogeneous among the municipalities. The municipalities of Melgaço and Portel have a greater number of health posts, enabling rapid detection and response to malaria cases. In contrast, Afuá and Bagre have few or poorly distributed healthcare facilities, hindering access to necessary care for the population and compromising disease control, reinforcing regional inequalities. The precarious availability of health surveillance units in all municipalities is a critical point and requires reinforcement, especially in endemic regions. This study provides relevant information to assist health surveillance, identifying areas susceptible to the presence of the vector.
Author Biographies
PhD candidate in Parasitic Biology in the Amazon at the State University of Pará, developed in partnership with the Evandro Chagas Institute.
Undergraduate Nursing student at UNAMA.
Epidemiologist with a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Tropical Diseases from the Tropical Medicine Center of the Federal University of Pará and ENGREF/Paris/France, and a PhD in Information Science from the University of Brasília.
PhD candidate in Tropical Diseases at the Tropical Medicine Center of the Federal University of Pará (NMT/UFPA) and Master in Public Health (ICS/UFPA).
Postdoctoral Fellowship and PhD in Parasitic Biology in the Amazon, Master’s degree in Forest Sciences from the Federal Rural University of the Amazon (2010), and Master’s degree in Education Sciences from the University of Évora.
Master’s degree in Epidemiology and Health Surveillance from the Graduate Program in Epidemiology and Health Surveillance (PPGEVS) at the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC).
PhD candidate in Tropical Diseases at the Tropical Medicine Center of the Federal University of Pará and Master in Public Health from the Federal University of Pará through the Graduate Program in Public Health in the Amazon.
PhD in Biology of Infectious and Parasitic Agents (BAIP) from the Federal University of Pará and Master’s degree in Parasitic Biology in the Amazon from the State University of Pará and the Evandro Chagas Institute.
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