Avaliação epidemiológica da ocorrência de esquistossomose no Estado de Pernambuco de 2007 à 2015

Abstract

Schistosomiasis is still considered a serious public health problem in Brazil, as it affects millions of people, manifesting initially asymptomatically, and can progress to severe clinical forms and lead the patient to death. Some factors, besides basic sanitation, also contribute to the occurrence of this disease. These are: the socioeconomic level, occupation, leisure, educational level and information of the population exposed to the risk of the disease, which are related and favor transmission, to a greater or lesser extent, according to local reality. The objective of this study was the epidemiological evaluation of the occurrence of Schistosomiasis in the State of Pernambuco, from 2007 to 2015. This is an observational, analytical, ecologically based study in which secondary data sources were used, Available in the main statistical databases in the areas of health and demography. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed, and then a beta regression model was used to identify which variables are associated with the schistosomiasis. It can be observed, after data analysis, that there was a relevant decrease in the percentage of positive cases in the State of Pernambuco. This percentage, which was 10.31% in 2007, decreased to 3.01% in 2015. This demonstrates the importance of maintaining and intensifying the control actions that are being carried out. However, these actions, focused on mass treatment, are not enough to interrupt the transmission of schistosomiasis. This study demonstrated a direct association between the rate of schistosomiasis and the % of the variables vulnerable to poverty, % of the population in households with density> 2 and unemployment rate. And indirect association between the rate of schistosomiasis and the variables % of the population in houses with garbage collection and aging rate. Demonstrating that actions are required that contemplate these socioeconomic aspects of the disease context, such as measures of basic sanitation, vector control, health education and measures that improve in general the quality of life and income of the population.