Spatial distribution of Hepatitis C in the State of Pará, Brazil: an epidemiological and socioeconomic analysis, in the areas of five Regional Health Centers

Nelson Veiga Gonçalves, Taiana Moita Koury Alves, Heloisa Maria Melo e Silva Guimarães, José Gabriel Miranda da Paixão, Alessandra Lima Leal, Bruno Yudi Shimomaebara Sousa, Bruno Kauê Rodrigues Vilhena, Claudia do Socorro Carvalho Miranda

  • Nelson Veiga Gonçalves
  • Taiana  Moita Koury Alves
  • Heloísa Maria Melo e Silva Guimarães
  • José Gabriel Miranda da Paixão
  • Alessandra Lima Leal
  • Bruno Shimomaebara Universidade do Estado do Pará
  • Bruno Kauê Rodrigues Vilhena
  • Claudia do Socorro Carvalho Miranda

Abstract

Hepatitis C is a major public health problem related to different socioeconomic characteristics and health policies in Brazilian municipalities. This work aimed to analyze the spatial distribution of the disease and its relationship with the Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) in five Regional Health Centers (RHC) in Pará, Brazil, from 2016 to 2022. In this ecological and cross-sectional study, the data was obtained from the Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Descriptive and spatial statistical analyzes were carried out using Bioestat 5.4 and ArcGIS 10.5.1 software. The individuals most affected by the disease were men, mixed race, adults and with primary education. The highest occurrence rate of the disease classified as very high was in the municipalities served by the 1st RHC and very low in those by the 10th, with an MHDI-M being very high for the 1st RHC and very low for the 10th RHC. The distribution pattern of hepatitis C in the studied areas showed its association with socioeconomic characteristics. The computational tools used were satisfactory for constructing the observed epidemiological scenario, which can be of great value for continuous and systematic surveillance of the disease.

Published
2024-06-08