Geospatial analysis of american tegumentary leishmaniasis in Alagoas, 2007-2021

Abstract

American tegumentary leishmaniasis (ATL) is an infectious disease transmitted by vectors and caused by several protozoa of the genus Leishmania. In Brazil, it is considered a serious public health problem due to its endemicity throughout the national territory. The aim of this study is to analyze the spatial distribution of cases of ATL infection in the municipalities from the State of Alagoas, Brazil, and to identify related social determinants during the period of 2007 to 2021. This is an ecological, retrospective, and quantitative study. We use descriptive and spatial statistics. Data about the disease and social conditions were obtained in the Department of Informatics of the Brazilian National Health System (DATASUS) and Atlas Brasil platform. During this period, 1,033 cases of leishmaniasis were recorded, of which 41% corresponded to the age group of 15-39 years old; men (67%) and black individuals (76%) were the most affected by the disease. The predominant clinical form was cutaneous (95%). The spatial correlations indicate a lack of dependence of the disease, both alone and when compared to the human development index. The findings highlight the need for further investigations to better understand the underlying factors contributing to the disproportionate distribution of the disease and its association with demographic characteristics. KEY WORDS: American tegumentary leishmaniasis; cutaneous leishmaniasis; environmental health; social conditions.