Triatomine dispersion rates and their association with socioeconomic and environmental conditions in Northeastern Brazil, from 2009 to 2013

• Published in: Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo Vol. 61; pp. 1 - 11
• Main Authors: Bernardo-Pedro, Thiago, Sousa, Danielle Misael de, Freitas, Simone Patrícia Carneiro de, Freitas, Assilon Lindoval Carneiro de, Santos-Mallet, Jacenir Reis dos, Tassinari, Wagner de Souza
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: São Paulo Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo 01-01-2019; Instituto de Medicina Tropical; Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo; Universidade de São Paulo (USP)
• Subjects: Bayesian analysis; Chagas disease; Correlation analysis; Disease; Ecosystems; Environmental conditions; Environmental factors; Households; Mortality; Original; Public health; Reforestation; Rural areas; Socioeconomic factors; Socioeconomics; Spatial analysis; Triatominae; Tropical diseases; TROPICAL MEDICINE; Vector-borne diseases; Brazil; Spatial analysis; Triatominae; Bayesian analysis; Socioeconomic factors; Public health
• ISSN: 1678-9946; 0036-4665; 1678-9946
• DOI: 10.1590/S1678-9946201961047

Triatomines are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, which affects between 6 and 12 million people in Latin America, with an incidence rate of 12 thousand cases per year. In the Ceara State, the predominance of the caatinga biome, coupled with a large rural area with precarious human habitations, provides several s shelters for these insects. In this study, we determined the spatiotemporal distribution of triatomine dispersion rates in the Cariri region, Southern Ceara and ascertained the possible association between these rates with socioeconomic and environmental factors. Dispersion rates (number of positive localities/number of searched localities × 100) were analyzed regarding 13 municipalities from the Ceara State, from 2009 to 2013. Socioeconomic and environmental variables collected from national research institutes were associated with the dispersion rates and their local empirical Bayesian estimates. All the municipalities recorded dispersion rates over 10% in all years, and 11 municipalities had average rates over 40% for the period of study. Significant differences were observed among the municipality means. The highest rates were observed in Antonina do Norte and Potengi. According to the correlation analysis, the proportion between the occupied population and the total population showed a significant negative correlation, as well as the percentage of the population who lives under adequate sanitary conditions. Both, the percentage of revenues from external sources and the percentage of urban households in reforested blocks had a significant positive correlation. Our results show that socioeconomic and environmental variables can be factors that contribute to both, the maintenance and the reduction of the elevated dispersion rates observed in the study area. Similar researches that encompass more municipalities from that region may reinforce Chagas disease surveillance and control in the Northeast of Brazil.