Factors associated with multibacillary leprosy in a region of northeastern Brazil.

Introduction: The analysis of factors associated with multibacillary leprosy is important for the development of strategies to mitigate the disease, which persists as a public health problem in Brazil and the world. The objective of this study was to verify the associations between sociodemographic and clinical-epidemiological variables and multibacillary leprosy in the state of northeastern Brazil.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional, analytical, and retrospective study, with a quantitative approach, carried out in 16 municipalities in the southwest of Maranhão State, northeastern Brazil.

Spatiotemporal risk assessment and COVID-19 trend estimation in a federative unit in northeastern Brazil.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread worldwide, causing a high burden of morbidity and mortality, and has affected the various health service systems in the world, demanding disease monitoring and control strategies. The objective of this study was to identify risk areas using spatiotemporal models and determine the COVID-19 time trend in a federative unit of northeastern Brazil.

Methods: An ecological study using spatial analysis techniques and time series was carried out in the state of Maranhão, Brazil.

Visceral leishmaniasis and HIV coinfection in Brazil: epidemiological profile and spatial patterns.

Background: Geographical overlap of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and HIV infection favors occurrences of HVL/HIV coinfection. The increasing numbers of cases of HVL/HIV coinfection are a worldwide concern and knowledge of the factors involved can help in developing preventive measures.

Methods: We aimed to identify spatial patterns and describe the epidemiological profile of HVL/HIV coinfection in Brazil from 2007 to 2015.

Deaths due to COVID-19 in a state of northeastern Brazil: spatiotemporal distribution, sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics.

Background: The detection of spatiotemporal clusters of deaths by coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is essential for health systems and services, as it contributes to the allocation of resources and helps in effective decision making aimed at disease control and surveillance. Thus we aim to analyse the spatiotemporal distribution and describe sociodemographic and clinical and operational characteristics of COVID-19-related deaths in a Brazilian state.

Methods: A descriptive and ecological study was carried out in the state of Maranhão.

Access to Health Services and Assistance Offered to the Afro-Descendant Communities in Northern Brazil: A Qualitative Study.

The remnants of quilombos, individuals of African descent, have faced several barriers throughout its history, either due to prejudice imposed by society, or the non-fulfillment of their rights guaranteed in the 1988 Constitution, such as access to health services. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the health care offered to quilombo communities in the northern region of Tocantins. This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a qualitative approach, including field research and focus group, carried out with 58 quilombo remnants people from communities in the northern region of Tocantins.

Epidemiological aspects and spatial patterns of human visceral leishmaniasis in Brazil.

Human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) cases are important public health problems due to their zoonotic aspect, with high rates of morbidity and mortality in Brazil. The aim of this this study was to identify spatial patterns in both rates of HVL cases in Brazilian states during the period from 2006 to 2015. This is an ecological study, using geoprocessing tools to create choropleth maps, based on secondary data from open access platforms, to identify priority areas for control actions of the disease.

Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects of human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection: a systematic review.

Coinfection with human visceral leishmaniasis (HVL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has become an emerging public health problem in several parts of the world, with high morbidity and mortality rates. A systematic review was carried out in the literature available in PubMed, Scielo and Lilacs related to HVL associated with HIV coinfection, seeking to analyze epidemiological, clinical and laboratory aspects. Of the 265 articles found, 15 articles were included in the qualitative analysis, which referred to the results of HVL treatment in patients coinfected with HIV.

Socio-environmental factors and diarrheal diseases in under five-year old children in the state of Tocantins, Brazil.

Background: Diarrhea is a waterborne disease that affects children, especially those under 5 years of age. The objective of this study was to identify the spatial patterns of distribution of diarrheal disease in under 5-year-old children in the State of Tocantins, Brazil, from 2008 to 2013.

Methods: Geoprocessing tools were used to carry out an epidemiological study, to prepare thematic maps in the TerraView 4.