Notifiable Diseases Information System Research Articles

Epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Brazil: a retrospective study

Epidemiology of schistosomiasis in Brazil: a retrospective study

Diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Ceará state, Brazil: A flow analysis of cases between 2007 and 2021.

To analyse the flow of cases of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the state of Ceará, Brazil, between 2007 and 2021. An ecological study was conducted using a spatial approach of newly confirmed cases of VL recorded in the Notifiable Diseases Information System. We identified individuals whose municipality of diagnosis differed from that of their residence. Flow maps, constructed using Tabwin 32 and ArcMap 9.2, allowed for the identification of the volume of traffic between the municipality of residence and that of initial care. There were 6775 confirmed VL cases. As a flow indicator, 178 counties had at least one resident diagnosed in another municipality in Ceará, with 2491 VL cases and an average trip of 79 km. The largest hub for receiving cases for diagnosis was the capital Fortaleza (1478 patients from 129 other municipalities), followed by Sobral, located in the northwestern region of Ceará (599 from 55 municipalities), and Barbalha, in the southern region (171 from 29 municipalities). In this southern region, 25 municipalities moved 55 people for treatment to Juazeiro do Norte and 11 municipalities moved 39 patients to Crato. A total of 255 patients with VL from 11 municipalities in other Brazilian states, mainly from the Northeast and North, were observed and notified in health services in Ceará. The major centres of VL diagnosis outside residence were in the cities of Fortaleza, Sobral, Barbalha, Juazeiro do Norte and Crato. There was also an outflow of cases from other municipalities located in the northeastern and northern regions of Brazil. The flows were more intense during the first triennium of the analysis and milder from 2019 to 2021. Understanding the diagnostic flow of VL helps in decision making and the development of public policies to improve the lives of the population.

Epidemiological Profile of Meningitis in the State of Para, Amazonia between the Years 2018-2022

Objective: Analyze the epidemiological profile of meningitis in the state of Pará, Amazon, from 2018 to 2022. Methodology: This is an ecological, retrospective, and descriptive-exploratory study, using data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases (SINAN), made available on the website of the Department of Information of the Brazilian Unified Health System (DATASUS). Results: In the state of Pará, from 2018 to 2022, 1,680 cases were confirmed. The absolute number of cases per year was 508 (30%) in 2018. Males were the most affected with 966 cases (57.5%), and the age group of 20-39 years had the highest number of cases with 584. Regarding race, parda (mixed race) remains in first place with 1,472 cases. In terms of disease progression, the number of cases with a discharge is leading with 1,309, followed by the etiology, Viral Meningitis (MV), and Bacterial Meningitis (MB), which have the highest number of cases with a discharge. Conclusion: It can be inferred that the study in the state of Pará is essential for data collection and information regarding the disease, subsequently highlighting the main profiles and characteristics of the disease. Furthermore, the research proves to be important as the highest number of disease notifications occurred in the years 2018, 2019, and 2022.

Epidemiology of compulsorily notifiable diseases in the municipality of Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil

The present study aimed at the elaboration of an epidemiological profile for the municipality of Sinop-MT and the possible related causal factors. A descriptive study was carried out, with data collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), on the 10 Notifiable Diseases (CNDs) most reported for the municipality of Sinop-MT for the period 2015-2017, using the filters: Municipality of residence (Sinop), period (2015-2017), sex, age group, case evolution and other most relevant indicators for each condition. When evaluating the main NCDs, it was found that those that occupied the first ten positions regarding the occurrence rate were: dengue, leprosy, domestic, sexual and/or other violence, accident by venomous animals, American cutaneous leishmaniasis, exogenous intoxication, viral hepatitis, infant deaths, AIDS and tuberculosis; which represented around 97.5% of the total notifications. It was found, therefore, that the NCDs, although highly present in Sinop-MT, are presented in a heterogeneous way, which reveals the need for resolute strategies that act in diversified and multifactorial ways and the need for in-depth studies to determine the profile epidemiology within each disease.

Influence of COVID-19 on the notification of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis cases

BackgroundTo analyze the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the process of diagnosis and monitoring of drug-resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases reported in the state of Paraná, Brazil, from 2015 to 2020.MethodsEcological study with quantitative approach. This study was based on diagnosed cases of pulmonary TB reported in the Notifiable Disease Information System in residents of Paraná; as well as through the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state epidemiological bulletin for the year 2020. The study data were analyzed using descriptive statistics.ResultsIt was found that, although the number of reported pulmonary TB cases (drug-resistant and general) increased between 2015 and 2019, there was a drop in notification in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The notification of TB cases was also influenced monthly during the year according to the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. For cases of drug-resistant pulmonary TB, the provision of diagnostic tests and Directly Observed Treatment decreased by more than half in 2020, especially when compared to 2019.ConclusionsIn view of these findings, the influence of COVID-19 on the diagnosis and monitoring of drug-resistant and general pulmonary TB cases is evident, showing that the pandemic has compromised the advances of recent decades in achieving the goals established for its eradication by 2035.

Temporal trends of dengue cases and deaths from 2007 to 2020 in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

ABSTRACT Dengue, a disease with multifactorial determinants, is linked to population susceptibility to circulating viruses and the extent of vector infestation. This study aimed to analyze the temporal trends of dengue cases and deaths in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2007 to 2020. Data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) were utilized for the investigation. To assess the disease's progression over the study period and predict its future incidence, time series analyses were conducted using a generalized additive model (GAM) and a seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average (SARIMA) model. Over the study period, a total of 463,566 dengue cases and 125 deaths were reported. Notably, there was an increase in severe cases and deaths, marking hyperendemics characterized by simultaneous virus circulation (79.17% in 2016–50% in 2019). The generalized additive model revealed a non-linear pattern with epidemic peaks in 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019, indicating an explosive pattern of dengue incidence. The SARIMA (3,1,1) (0,0,0)12 model was validated for each year (2015 to 2019). Comparing the actual and predicted numbers of dengue cases, the model demonstrated its effectiveness for predicting cases in the municipality. The rising number of dengue cases emphasizes the importance of vector surveillance and control. Enhanced models and predictions by local health services will aid in anticipating necessary control measures to combat future epidemics.

A distributional regression approach to modeling the impact of structural and intermediary social determinants on communities burdened by tuberculosis in Eastern Amazonia – Brazil

BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a disease that is influenced by social determinants of health. However, the specific structural and intermediary determinants of TB in Eastern Amazonia remain unclear. Despite being rich in natural resources, the region faces significant challenges related to poverty, inequality, and neglected diseases. The objective of this study was to use mathematical modeling to evaluate the influence of structural and intermediary determinants of health on TB in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil.MethodsThis cross-sectional included all TB cases diagnosed and registered in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) from 2001 to 2017. Data on social determinants were collected at the census tract level. The generalized additive model for location, scale, and shape (GAMLSS) framework was employed to identify the effect of social determinants on communities with a high TB prevalence. The Double Poisson distribution (DPO) was chosen, and inclusion of quadratic effects was tested.ResultsA total of 1730 individuals were diagnosed with TB and reported in SINAN during the analyzed period. The majority were female (59.3%), aged 31 to 59 years (47.6%), identified as blacks (67.9%), and had incomplete elementary education (46.6%). The prevalence of alcoholism was 8.6% and mental illness was 0.7%. GAMLSS analyses demonstrated that the risk of community incidence of TB is associated with the proportion of the population lacking basic sanitation, as well as with the age groups of 16–31 years and > 61 years.ConclusionsThe study highlights the strategic utility of GAMLSS in identifying high-risk areas for TB. Models should encompass a broader range of social determinants to inform policies aimed at reducing inequality and achieving the goals of the End TB strategy.

Human Anti-Rabies Treatment in the Mucuri Valley, Brazil, 2017 – 2019

Background: We aimed to describe the profile of people involved in accidents with potentially rabid-transmitting animals, and characterize the spatial distribution and temporal trend of post-exposure human anti-rabies treatments. Methods: We carried out a descriptive cross-sectional study including all post-exposure human anti-rabies care and the respective prophylactic conducts reported in the Notifiable Diseases Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health that took place in the 23 municipalities of Mucuri Valley, Minas Gerais State, Brazil, in the period from 2017 to 2019. Results: 3,691 notifications of human anti-rabies care were registered, with an average of 102.5 per month. Canine and feline species were the main aggressors. There was a progressive increase of the notifications in the period, and a heterogeneous spatial distribution of incidence with a greater concentration of care in the municipalities located in the north of the region. Conclusions: Our data show a higher incidence of cases when compared to other regions of Brazil. In addition, they can serve as a parameter to stimulate new research in the area and support the decision-making of public health managers in the region, aiming at the timely prevention and control of these neglected conditions.

HIV in Paraná: clinical-epidemiological overview, distribution, and incidence by macroregional and regional health

Objective: to trace the clinical-epidemiological panorama, distribution, and incidence of HIV cases by macroregional and regional health of Paraná. Material and Methods: descriptive epidemiological study, carried out with data obtained by the Notifiable Diseases Information System regarding HIV/AIDS cases registered in the state of Paraná between 2018 and 2019. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics. The study was authorized by the State Department of Health of Paraná and had a favorable opinion from the Research Ethics Committee. Results: 6,023 cases of HIV/AIDS were reported, with a prevalence of male, white, mean age of 35 years old, complete high school and college, and predominance of sexual transmission. The epidemiological characteristics corroborate the findings in the literature and are similar to the national profile. There were cases of mother-to-child vertical transmission during pregnancy and via transfusion, suggesting possibilities for effective action. East macroregional had the highest number of cases and incidence coefficient. Conclusion: the HIV/AIDS epidemic represents a multidimensional challenge for the health sector, considering its magnitude, severity, costs, and dissemination. Despite the improvement in infection prevention and health promotion strategies, the numbers of new infections per year are relevant and stable. The regionalization of information allows the individualization of epidemiological data, enabling the adoption of more effective strategies that correspond to local needs. Therefore, this study brings great contributions to local managers to direct strategies for assistance, surveillance, and control of this condition of great importance to public health.

Psychological, physical and sexual violence against brazilian women: a cross-section study

The objective was to characterize the notifications of urban violence against women, according to psychological, physical and sexual typologies. This is a cross-sectional, documentary, descriptive and analytical research, based on the notification forms of the Brazilian Notifiable Diseases Information System between the years 2014 and 2017, referring to a city in the Northeast. The independent variables were divided according to the most prevalent types of violence, while the dependent ones followed the characteristics suggested by the notification forms. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square and Fisher's Exact tests, with a significance level of 5%, in addition to calculating the Chance Ratio. RStudio was used as statistical software.447 notification forms were included, with the following prevalences being observed: psychological (80.1%), physical (39.2%), and sexual (21%), with a predominance of women with low educational level (<8 years of study), non-white race, without companions and heterosexuals. Most of the notifications pointed to the repetition of violence, occurring mainly at night, in homes and public roads, in the form of threats, and the use of body strength. Women are exposed to psychological, physical, and sexual violence, especially to the psychological form, possibly because they have a pattern intrinsically associated with other types.

Clinical and Epidemiological Aspectsin Indigenous Elderly People with Tuberculosis in a State in the Brazilian Amazon

Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological aspects of tuberculosis among indigenous elderly individuals in Pará, from 2010 to 2019.
 Methodology: This study employed an epidemiological, quantitative approach using data from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases. The data comprised new cases of tuberculosis reported in elderly individuals in the state of Pará between 2010 and 2019. The data, publicly accessible and stored in epidemiological indicators of tuberculosis in the health macro-regions of Pará, were analyzed using descriptive statistics in Microsoft Excel© software. The results were presented through graphs and tables, displaying the absolute and percentage frequency distribution of the selected variables.
 Results and Discussion: A total of 99 cases were identified. The year with the highest occurrence of cases was 2016, with 14 cases (14.14%) reported. The majority of cases were incident in females, with 51 cases (51.52%). The most affected age group was between 70 and 79 years old, accounting for 45 cases (45.45%). Among individuals with no schooling, there was a higher prevalence of illiterate elderly people, with 59 cases (59.60%).
 Conclusion: The relationship between TB cases in indigenous elderly individuals and social determinants such as health conditions, housing, and education is highlighted to demonstrate that social inequality among different socioeconomic classes affects the health-disease process.

Institutional outbreaks of influenza-like illnesses in the state of São Paulo: an analysis of the epidemiological profile during the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesThis study aimed to spatiotemporally analyze the profile of influenza-like illness (ILI) outbreaks in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, between 2020 and 2022. Study designThis was a cross-sectional retrospective study. MethodsOutbreaks of ILI with final diagnoses of COVID-19, influenza, or other respiratory viruses (ORVs) recorded between January 2020 and November 2022, obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN NET) Outbreak module, were analyzed. Kernel density estimates and Getis-Ord Gi∗ statistics were performed to identify spatial clusters. ResultsA total of 13,314 ILI outbreaks were identified, involving 130,568 cases and 2649 deaths. Of these, 104,399 (80%) were confirmed as COVID-19, 15,861 (12%) were confirmed as ORV, and 10,308 (8%) were confirmed as influenza. The year 2021 had the highest number of outbreaks and cases. Schools recorded the most outbreaks and cases, followed by long-term care facilities for older adults (LTCs). The highest average number of cases per outbreak and the highest attack rates occurred at social gatherings and prisons. Prisoners were three times more likely to contract COVID-19 during outbreaks than people in other institutions. The highest hospitalization and mortality rates for all virus types occurred in the LTC group. The occurrence and intensity of outbreaks were highly heterogeneous among the different institutions after the introduction of new SARS-CoV-2 variants in the state. ConclusionsILI outbreaks were not randomly distributed; they clustered in specific areas. Transmissibility varied among different institutions with different responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. These results can be used as a basis for prioritizing actions and allocating resources during future pandemics.

Epidemiological characteristics and spatio-temporal distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis cases reported in students from Guizhou Province, 2011-2020

Objective: To analyze the trend of epidemiological characteristics and spatiotemporal distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among smear-positive or other types of students in Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020, and to provide a reference for improving prevention and control measures. Methods: Data were collected from the Chinese Information System's Notifiable Disease and Tuberculosis Management Information System for disease control and prevention, the Joinpoint 4.9.1.0 software was used to analyze the trend of registration rate; the ArcGIS 10.6 software was used to construct a ring map and to perform spatial autocorrelation analysis; the SaTScan 9.7 software was used for spatial-temporal scan statistics. Results: A total of 32 682 student PTB cases were reported in Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020, including 5 949 (18.20%) smear-positive cases. Most cases occurred from high school students of 16 to 18 years old (43.99%, 14 376/32 682); the annual average registered rate was 36.22/100 000, the highest in 2018 (52.90/100 000), and the registration rate showed an increasing trend. Meanwhile, a similar trend of registration rate was observed among smear-positive or other types of students. The spatialtemporal heterogeneity was found that the "high-high" clustering patterns of smear-positive or other types were aggregated in Bijie City. Six spatialtemporal clusters with statistically significant (all P<0.001) were detected among smear-positive or other cases, respectively. Conclusions: Upward trend with spatial- temporal clusters of PTB cases reported in students from Guizhou Province from 2011 to 2020. Surveillance should be strengthened for high school students, and regular screening should be conducted in high-risk areas to control the source of infection and reduce the risk of transmission.

Temporal patterns, spatial risks, and characteristics of tegumentary leishmaniasis in Brazil in the first twenty years of the 21st Century.

Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is a significant public health issue in Brazil. The present ecological study describes the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of TL cases reported in the country, and analyzes the spatial and temporal patterns of the incidences and risks of occurrence across the five geopolitical regions and 27 federative units. Data regarding new cases of TL notified between 2001 and 2020 were obtained from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Joinpoint and spatial and temporal generalized additive models were used to establish trends in the evolution of TL during the target period. The incidence rate for the entire period was 226.41 cases/100,000 inhabitants. All regions of Brazil showed trends of decreasing incidence rates, albeit with fluctuations at specific times, with the exception of the Southeast where rates have increased since 2014, most particularly in Minas Gerais state. The disease was concentrated predominantly in the North region, with Acre state leading the incidence rank in the whole country, followed by Mato Grosso (Midwest), Maranhão and Bahia (Northeast) states. The spatial distribution of the risk of TL occurrence in relation to the annual averages was relatively stable throughout the period. The cutaneous form of TL was predominant and cases most frequently occurred in rural areas and among men of working age. The ages of individuals contracting TL tended to increase during the time series. Finally, the proportion of confirmations by laboratory tests was lower in the Northeast. TL shows a declining trend in Brazil, but its widespread occurrence and the presence of areas with increasing incidence rates demonstrate the persistent relevance of this disease and the need for constant monitoring. Our findings reinforce the importance of temporal and spatial tools in epidemiologic surveillance routines and are valuable for targeting preventive and control actions.

COVID-19 DEATHS AMONG THE ELDERLY IN A MUNICIPALITY IN NORTHWESTERN PARANÁ, BETWEEN THE YEARS 2020 AND 2021

In December 2019, a new virus called SARS-CoV-2 was identified. The World HealthOrganization (WHO) named the disease caused by the new virus COVID-19 (coronavirusdisease, year 2019), and in March 2020, it was declared a pandemic. Since then, there hasbeen a global effort to produce information in order to unravel the clinical, epidemiological,and prognostic factors of the disease. By identifying the main risk factors, it is possible tocarry out early monitoring of the most vulnerable groups, reducing the chance of unfavorableclinical outcomes. It is a consensus that advanced age is associated with an increase inmorbidity and mortality. This study aimed to verify the occurrence of COVID-19 deathsamong the elderly in the city of Maringá, Paraná, in the years 2020 and 2021, as well as theirassociation with gender. This research is characterized as a retrospective quantitative study.The data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan). Thedependent variable was the occurrence of death in elderly patients, and the independentvariables were gender and year of occurrence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were usedto analyze the data. Results showed that in 2020, there were 514 deaths (40.5% female and59.5% male). In 2021, the number of deaths increased exponentially, reaching 2025 cases(39.6% female and 60.4% male). The highest occurrence of COVID-19 deaths among theelderly occurred in 2021 and in males. Based on this profile, specific strategies and care linesshould be studied for this more vulnerable population in times of pandemics.

Epidemiological characteristics of leprosy from 2000 to 2019 in a state with low endemicity in southern Brazil

BackgroundLeprosy is an infectious and contagious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and is mainly characterized by lesions in the skin and peripheral nerves. In Brazil, it is a public health problem due to its high endemicity. However, the state of Rio Grande do Sul presents low endemicity of this disease. ObjectiveTo characterize the epidemiological profile of leprosy in the state of Rio Grande do Sul from 2000 to 2019. MethodsThis was a retrospective observational study. Epidemiological data were collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN, Sistema de Informação de Agravos de Notificação). ResultsAmong the 497 municipalities in the state, 357 (71.8%) registered cases of leprosy in the assessed period, with an average of 212 (81.5%) new cases per year. The average detection rate was 1.61 new cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The male sex was predominant (51.9%) and the mean age was 50.4 years. Regarding the epidemiological clinical profile; 79.0% of the patients were multibacillary; 37.5% presented the borderline clinical form; 16% had grade 2 physical disability at diagnosis and bacilloscopy was positive in 35.4% of cases. As for treatment, 73.8% of the cases were treated with the standard multibacillary therapeutic regimen. Study limitationsThere were missing/inconsistent data in the database available. ConclusionsThe findings observed in this study indicate that the state presents a low endemicity profile of the disease and these results can support adequate health policies relevant to the reality of Rio Grande do Sul, inserted in a national scenario of highly endemic leprosy.

EPIDEMIOLOGY OF ROCKY MOUNTAIN SPOTTED FEVER IN BRAZIL, 2010-2020

Rocky Mountain spotted fever is a tick-borne rickettsiosis. The main clinical signs and symptoms are fever, severe headache, rashes and myalgia. It is considered difficult to diagnose and underreported. The study aims to descriptively analyze the epidemiology of cases of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in Brazil from 2010 to 2021. This is a retrospective cohort study that statisticall analyzes the cases of spotted fever in Brazil between 2010 and 2020 through data obtained by the Information System of Notifiable Diseases. The proportions of spotted fever cases were calculated according to: sex, age, race/color, infection environment and evolution. There are 1967 cases were confirmed. The regions with the most cases were the Southeast (n%=72.24) and the South (n%=24). However, there are 4 deaths in the south while the lethality coefficient from the southeast is 47.78%. The most affected age group was 40-59 years old (n%=34.87), and 20-39 years old (n%=28.98). 71.17% of the cases are male. As for color/race, 60% of the cases are in whites. As for the infection environment, 35.23% are at home, 15.3% are at work, 26.13% are leisure places. The prevalence in males and the predominant age group 20-59 years can be linked to work activity, which leaves hem more exposed to ticks. The high numbers in adulthood can also be related to ecotourism. The lethality of the disease differs between the South and Southeast regions. One explanation for this phenomenon would be the different etiological agents, R. rickettsi, predominant in the Southeast, generating more severe clinical conditions.

Epidemiological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a parasitic disease caused by Leishmania protozoa and transmitted by the bite of sand fly insects. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological aspects of VL in Rio Grande do Norte (RN), using variables inserted in the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, for the period from 2013 to 2019. The chi-square test of independence was used with p&lt;0.05 considered statistically significant. 635 cases of VL were reported in RN, with stability of new cases in the analyzed period. 60% of cases were autochthonous, 84 (50.2%) municipalities in RN had autochthonous cases, with 70 (18.2%) cases in Natal and 58 (15.1%) in Mossoró. The most affected age group was 20-59 year old (57.3%) followed by 0-9 year old (23.8%), 10-19 year old (10.4%) and 60 year old or older (8.5%). There was a positive association between the 0-9 and 10-19 ranges with females and 20-59 with males (p=0.0001). Among the 532 individuals, 54.5% had a low level of education, and these, as well as the illiterate, associated with males (p=0.001). 85.3% of 612 cases were in black/brown group and 77.1% of 632 in urban/periurban residents. 27.6% of 500 were co-infected with HIV, 77.5% in males and 89.8% in adults. 70.7% progressed to cure and 6.8% died from VL. The study shows that the control measures adopted within the scope of the National Program for the Control of Leishmaniasis should be reassessed since there has been no decrease in cases, even though it has had stability over the years in Natal and a tendency to growth in Mossoró, the most affected areas. KEY WORDS: Visceral leishmaniasis; Leishmania; epidemiology.

Epidemiological profile of pesticide poisoning cases in the State of Sergipe, Brazil: a retrospective analysis from 2007 to 2021

We aimed to characterize the epidemiological profile of reported cases of pesticide poisoning in the state of Sergipe between 2007 and 2021. Secondary data were obtained from the National Database of Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and National Toxicological Information System (SINITOX), through the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) and analysis performed using the free tool Google Sheets. During the studied period, 960 cases of exogenous pesticide poisoning were registered in the state. The municipality of Aracaju had the highest percentage of the number of cases. The incidence prevailed in females, in the 20-39 age group, in the brown race and among those with incomplete primary education. The most used toxic agent was rodenticide, suicide attempt predominated as a circumstance of use. Most cases resulted from a single acute exposure, confirmed by the clinical-epidemiological method, and evolved to a cure without sequelae. This study traced the epidemiological profile of the State of Sergipe with regard to the intoxication of the population and, in addition, brought little explored data and information that directly impacts policies aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality resulting from the use of pesticides.

Spatial distribution of leprosy in municipalities of the state of Goiás in the year 2020

Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by an acid-resistant bacillus called Mycobacterium leprae and the disease is characterized by its slow multiplication, with an excessively long incubation period. The objective of the research was to evaluate the spatial distribution of leprosy cases among the municipalities of the State of Goiás in 2020. This is a descriptive study and the data collection took place from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) in November, 2021 and it considered the diagnosis´ year and the patient’s municipality of residence. The following indicators were adopted in the analysis: a) annual prevalence rate per 10,000 inhabitants; b) annual rate of new cases detection in the general population; and c) annual rate of new cases detection in individuals under 15 years of age, these last two per 100,000 inhabitants. The analysis of the spatial occurrence pattern of leprosy in Goiás State municipalities was carried out in the free software Terraview version 4.2.2. A higher prevalence of distribution of the gross rate of the disease was observed in the Central-North and Central-West macro-regions, with a concentration of cases also in the Northeast region of the State. From the 246 Goiás municipalities, 68.7% (n = 169) had cases of leprosy, 18.3% (n = 45) were in a situation of hyperendemia and 23.2% (n = 57) had a very high detection coefficient. Considering the rate of detection in those people under 15 years of age, only 11 municipalities (4.5%) were in a situation of hyperendemia and 1.2% (n = 3) had a very high detection coefficient (5.00 to 9.99/ 10.000 inhabitants). The current investigation indicates the maintenance of leprosy hyperendemic areas in the State of Goiás, when compared to previous studies. This finding highlights the importance of readjustment of leprosy management and assistance in municipalities at greater risk of leprosy hyperendemicity in order to interrupt the M. leprae transmission chain. KEY WORDS: Leprosy; prevalence; spatial distribution; Goiás State.