| Abstrakt: |
Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL), commonly known as Kala-azar, is a tropical, endemic, and neglected infection in over 65 countries. It is caused by Leishmania donovani and L. infantum, which are protozoa transmitted by sandflies between humans and other mammals. It is a prevalent disease in impoverished regions, primarily affecting people in conditions of social vulnerability. This study aims to identify risk areas for visceral leishmaniasis and its relationship with socioeconomic indicators in the state of Tocantins, a state influenced by the Brazilian Amazon. An ecological observational study was conducted to analyze the spatial distribution, risk areas, and time series for visceral leishmaniasis cases in the municipalities of Tocantins, Brazil, from 2011 to 2020. The state showed a decreasing trend for the disease, but still with high incidence levels, especially in the health regions in the northern part of the state. These regions presented risk areas for the disease transmission and a strong relationship between the indices and the studied socioeconomic indicators. Despite the efforts of the local and regional healthcare systems, the disease persists as a significant public health challenge in several cities of the state, requiring interdisciplinary measures, as the problem is closely related to social indicators that directly impact the population's health reality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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