Malária no Amapá 2014-2024: análise epidemiológica dos casos notificados

Abstract

Considering that malaria remains a serious public health problem in the Amazon, especially in the state of Amapá, where it negatively impacts the population's well-being and regional development, this study aims to analyze the epidemiological profile of autochthonous cases reported between 2014 and 2024, with an emphasis on sociodemographic and occupational factors. To this end, an ecological, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was carried out using secondary data from SIVEP-Malária. All autochthonous cases recorded during the period were included, and the variables analyzed were sex, race/skin color, occupation, method of detection, etiological agent, and municipality of residence. In this context, 112,204 cases were reported, with a predominance of men (62.9%), individuals of mixed race (75.3%), and infections by Plasmodium vivax (91.4%), mostly detected through passive case detection (88.4%). The most affected occupations were agriculture and gold mining. The years 2017 and 2018 showed peaks in case numbers, followed by a decrease until 2022 and a new increase in 2023. Municipalities such as Calçoene and indigenous populations showed greater vulnerability. This leads to the conclusion that malaria in Amapá is a disease of multicausal nature, strongly influenced by environmental, social, and structural conditions. Thus, it is necessary to strengthen epidemiological surveillance, expand access to active diagnosis, and direct public policies to the most vulnerable areas. Meireles et al. (2020) reinforce that this structural precariousness increases the risk of transmission and reinfection, highlighting the multifactorial nature of malaria in Northern Brazil.