Socioeconomic aspects in the context of neglected tropical diseases in the municipalities of Abaetetuba and Barcarena, Pará

Abstract

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of conditions that causes chronic disability and death, with the population most affected by those who live in socioeconomic vulnerability, considering basic water, hygiene and basic sanitation services. The objective of this study was to analyze the context of neglected climatic diseases under socioeconomic aspects in the municipality of Abaetetuba and Barcarena, Pará. The methodology used was the ecological, descriptive, time series study, between 2007 and 2016, and the variables Analyzed were the incidence of notified diseases, according to the Secretaries of Municipal Health Secretariats and the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI). More than 7 thousand cases of NTDs have been reported in Abaetetuba and more than 1700 cases in Barcarena, namely american cutaneous leishmaniasis, visceral leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, tuberculosis, leprosy and dengue, with data related to dengue only being made available by the Secretary of Municipal Health Council in Barcarena. The municipality of Abaetetuba had the highest incidence rates of NTDs, mainly for Chagas disease, visceral leishmaniasis and leprosy; it also had a larger population number than Barcarena, although it had a much larger population growth than Abaetetuba in the period between 2007 and 2016. In Barcarena, as NTDs with the highest incidence are dengue, tuberculosis and leprosy. There is not much difference in the MHDI between the mentioned municipalities, and although Barcarena is the host city of a large mining enterprise, this result showed that the population of both municipalities are in great socioeconomic vulnerability, and that there is a need for implementation of programs aimed at eradicating these diseases, as well as expanding investments in education and basic sanitation so that social inequities are minimized.