EPIDEMIOLOGICAL BEHAVIOR OF TUBERCULOSIS IN BRAZIL: COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS BETWEEN THE TOTAL POPULATION AND THE HOMELESS POPULATION (2015–2024)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.66104/af6n0w24Keywords:
Incidência, Tuberculose, Acessibilidade aos Serviços de SaúdeAbstract
Tuberculosis remains an important public health problem in Brazil, especially among socially vulnerable groups, particularly the homeless population. This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological behavior of tuberculosis in Brazil from 2015 to 2024, comparing the overall Brazilian population and the homeless population. This was an ecological, observational, cross -sectional, descriptive, and comparative study based on secondary data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN/DATASUS), the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), and the Unified Registry for Social Programs of the Federal Government (Cadastro Único). Confirmed tuberculosis cases reported between 2015 and 2024 were analyzed. For the calculation of incidence rates per 1,000 inhabitants, the year 2022 was selected, using IBGE population estimates and the number of homeless individuals registered in Cadastro Único. The absolute number of cases, average annual variation, and incidence rates by region were evaluated. During the study period, 860,596 tuberculosis cases were recorded in the overall Brazilian population and 39,840 among the homeless population. A progressive increase in notifications was observed in both groups, with a slight decrease in 2020 and a resumption of growth in subsequent years. The Southeast region accounted for the highest absolute number of cases, while the North region showed the greatest proportional increases. Incidence rates in 2022 were substantially higher among the homeless population, with particularly elevated values in states such as Amapá and Amazonas. It is concluded that the homeless population bears a disproportionate burden of tuberculosis in Brazil, highlighting significant epidemiological and social inequalities. Addressing the disease requires intersectoral policies integrating health care, social assistance, and housing, as well as strengthening territorial strategies such as Street Outreach Clinics (Consultório na Rua).
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Copyright (c) 2026 João Carlos Chaves dos Santos Jr, Camilla Cosenza Valacio, Henrique Teng, Filipe Azevêdo Rabelo, Paulo Víctor Cavalcante Lima, Arthur Cosenza Valácio, Carla Jorge Machado
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