Vulnerability to the transmission of human visceral leishmaniasis in a Brazilian urban area.

Paulo Chagastelles Sabroza,Andréa Sobral De Almeida,Luciano Medeiros Toledo,Celina Roma Sánchez De Toledo,Jefferson Pereira Caldas,Sergio Augusto De Miranda Chaves

doi:10.1590/s1518-8787.2017051006532

Paulo Chagastelles Sabroza, Andréa Sobral De Almeida + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/s1518-8787.2017051006532

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Abstract

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVE To analyze the determinants for the occurrence of human visceral leishmaniasis linked to the conditions of vulnerability.METHODS This is an ecological study, whose spatial analysis unit was the Territorial Analysis Unit in Araguaína, State of Tocantins, Brazil, from 2007 to 2012. We have carried out an analysis of the sociodemographic and urban infrastructure situation of the municipality. Normalized primary indicators were calculated and used to construct the indicators of vulnerability of the social structure, household structure, and urban infrastructure. From them, we have composed a vulnerability index. Kernel density estimation was used to evaluate the density of cases of human visceral leishmaniasis, based on the coordinates of the cases. Bivariate global Moran’s I was used to verify the existence of spatial autocorrelation between the incidence of human visceral leishmaniasis and the indicators and index of vulnerability. Bivariate local Moran’s I was used to identify spatial clusters.RESULTS We have observed a pattern of centrifugal spread of human visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality, where outbreaks of the disease have progressively reached central and peri-urban areas. There has been no correlation between higher incidences of human visceral leishmaniasis and worse living conditions. Statistically significant clusters have been observed between the incidences of human visceral leishmaniasis in both periods analyzed (2007 to 2009 and 2010 to 2012) and the indicators and index of vulnerability.CONCLUSIONS The environment in circumscribed areas helps as protection factor or increases the local vulnerability to the occurrence of human visceral leishmaniasis. The use of methodology that analyzes the conditions of life of the population and the spatial distribution of human visceral leishmaniasis is essential to identify the most vulnerable areas to the spread/maintenance of the disease.

Highlights

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne parasitic disease whose importance in the context of public health in Brazil has increased significantly in recent years
We have observed a pattern of centrifugal spread of human visceral leishmaniasis in the municipality, where outbreaks of the disease have progressively reached central and peri-urban areas
There has been no correlation between higher incidences of human visceral leishmaniasis and worse living conditions

Summary

Introduction

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a vector-borne parasitic disease whose importance in the context of public health in Brazil has increased significantly in recent years. This fact is mainly due to the expansion of urbanization processes and the modification of habitats of the species involved in the transmission cycle[5,22]. The geographical areas with transmission of VL are increasingly expanding. The disease, considered one of the priorities among tropical diseases by the World Health Organization (WHO), is endemic in ninety-eight countries, including Brazila, whose areas of occurrence increase progressively[9,13]. There is a great gap in scientific knowledge about VL.

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