Compulsorily notifiable diseases and health problems and socio-environmental conditions: an ecological study, Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2011-2015^*

Abstract

Objective:

To analyze association between climatic-environmental conditions and occurrence of compulsorily notifiable diseases and health problems, in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2011-2015.

Methods:

This was an ecological study of municipality clusters calculated based on cases confirmed on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System for the period 2011-2015.

Results:

Notifications were more frequent among females (51.1%); people of brown race/skin color (31.7%); in the 20-49 year age group (48.1%) and in the Metropolitan Health Region (60.3%). The factors associated with health problems were ambulatory care sensitive conditions (p-value<0.001); education development index (p-value<0.001); temperature (p-value=0.019) and degree of urbanization (p-value=0.004). Diseases were associated with population density (p-value<0.001); temperature (p-value<0.001), humidity (p-value<0.001) and altitude (p-value=0.005).

Conclusion:

Health problems were positively associated with ambulatory care sensitive conditions, the education development index and temperature; but negatively associated with degree of urbanization. Diseases were positively associated with the factors mentioned.

Keywords:
Incidence; Disease Notification; Socioeconomic Factors; Spatial Analysis; Environment