Analysis of Malaria Morbidity and Mortality in the Northern Region of Brazil (2018-2023): Challenges and Perspectives for Disease Control

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Malaria, an infectious disease transmitted by the bite of the Anopheles mosquito, has a high incidence in the North of Brazil, due to climatic factors, deforestation, lack of sanitation and poverty, especially in riverine areas. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to analyze the incidence of hospitalizations and deaths due to malaria in the Northern states of Brazil between 2018 and 2023, evaluating both quantitative and qualitative aspects of morbidity and mortality. METHODOLOGY: The study was carried out based on a descriptive and retrospective epidemiological analysis of data on hospitalizations and deaths caused by malaria, collected from the Hospital Information System (SIH) and the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN), through the DataSUS platform. Information from the seven state capitals of the Northern region was analyzed, covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The research also included a qualitative analysis of scientific articles available in databases such as Google Scholar. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The results indicate that malaria has been hitting the Northern region intensely, with emphasis on the states of Roraima and Rondônia, which had the highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths. In 2018, there was a peak in hospitalizations with 1828 registered cases. During the COVID-19 pandemic, a reduction in the number of hospitalizations and deaths was observed, possibly due to social isolation. However, socioeconomic and geographic factors continue to contribute to the high incidence of malaria in the region. Roraima led both in hospitalizations and deaths, which reinforces the need for more efficient public policies to control the disease. CONCLUSION: Malaria remains a significant public health challenge in the Northern region of Brazil. The results highlight the relevance of actions for the prevention and control of malaria, including the strengthening of epidemiological surveillance systems, improved access to health services and community education programs. The pandemic context demonstrated that isolation measures can have a positive impact on the reduction of malaria cases, highlighting the importance of effective control and prevention strategies.

Keywords: Malaria; Morbidity and mortality; Northern Region; COVID-19; Incidence.