Hepatitis A in Greater Florianópolis: analysis of the profile of cases and epidemiological indicators, 2023–2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5327/DST-2177-8264-1450Keywords:
hepatitis A, hepatitis A virus, disease outbreaks, health information systemsAbstract
Introduction: Despite improvements in sanitation and the introduction of the hepatitis A vaccine, sporadic outbreaks still occur in some regions of Brazil. Analysis of epidemiological indicators of hepatitis A in Greater Florianópolis allows for a more detailed understanding of the disease's characteristics in the local population, enabling the identification of more vulnerable groups and supporting targeted prevention and control strategies. Objective: To analyze the profile of cases and epidemiological indicators of hepatitis A in Greater Florianópolis during the period of 2023–2024. Methods: This is a descriptive study that analyzed confirmed cases of hepatitis A in Greater Florianópolis in 2023 and 2024. The profile was examined based on absolute and relative frequencies, accompanied by the calculation of incidence rates and sex ratios. Furthermore, Pearson's chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to examine differences in proportions. Results: There were 305 cases of hepatitis A registered. A higher frequency of notifications was observed in males (84.6%), in the age group of 20 to 39 years (79.3%), and in people with more schooling (45.9% with complete or incomplete higher education). The incidence of hepatitis A in Florianópolis was 35.0/100,000 inhabitants in 2023. Males showed a higher proportion of probable sexual transmission (66.8%) compared to females (25.0%), while females were more affected by contaminated water or food (75.0%) (p<0.001). Sexual transmission was more frequent in individuals with higher education (66.7%), while ingestion of contaminated water or food prevailed among those with primary education (28.6%) (p=0.017). Conclusion: The analysis of hepatitis A cases in Greater Florianópolis highlighted important differences in the epidemiological profile, with a higher frequency of cases in young, educated men, as well as distinct associations between transmission routes and sociodemographic factors, highlighting the need for specific prevention and control strategies.
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