A IMPORTÂNCIA DO SANEAMENTO BÁSICO NO CONTROLE DA ESQUISTOSSOMOSE EM MINAS GERAIS

Abstract

This study addresses the importance of basic sanitation in the control of schistosomiasis in Minas Gerais, one of the regions most affected by the disease in Brazil. Schistosomiasis, caused by the parasite Schistosoma mansoni, is a neglected disease, especially in areas with poor sanitation infrastructure. The transmission cycle occurs when people have contact with freshwater contaminated with the parasite's larvae, which are released by intermediate host snails. Thus, the lack of basic sanitation exposes the population to infection, becoming one of the main factors that perpetuate the spread of the disease. The objective of this work is to analyze the importance between basic sanitation coverage and the incidence of schistosomiasis, using Minas Gerais as a case study due to the epidemiological relevance of the disease in the region. The methodology used was a bibliographic research based on published studies and official documents. For data collection, databases such as PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, LILACS, CAPES and SciELO were consulted, using terms such as "schistosomiasis and Minas Gerais", "basic sanitation and Minas Gerais", "schistosomiasis control and Minas Gerais". Additionally, data were collected from official agencies such as the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), the Ministry of Health and the State Health Department of Minas Gerais, which provided an overview of sanitation coverage and distribution of schistosomiasis in endemic regions. The results show a strong correlation between the presence of basic sanitation and the reduction of schistosomiasis cases, especially in municipalities that registered improvements in sewage and treated water supply, which reinforces the theory that interventions in basic sanitation are decisive in interrupting the transmission cycle, while health education policies encourage preventive practices with the appropriate use of sanitation resources.