Incidência de doenças diarreicas na bacia do Rio Doce e possíveis relações com infraestrutura de saneamento e o rompimento da Barragem de Fundão - Mariana/MG

Abstract

The consumption of contaminated water is responsible for causing various waterborne diseases, especially in developing countries, where investments in health infrastructure are lagging and unequal in relation to developed countries. In addition to the lack of adequate infrastructure, several Brazilian municipalities, especially in the state of Minas Gerais, have their main sources under the influence of potentially polluting activities, such as mining. In this context, the rupture of the Fundão dam, located in the municipality of Mariana-MG, occurred on November 5, 2015, brought serious socio-environmental consequences, among them, the interruption of water abstraction in several localities. Thus, this study assumes that the rupture that occurred in the dam, as well as the suspension and shutdown of water supply, especially in municipalities that depend totally or partially on water abstraction from the Doce river, may have caused an increase in the incidence of waterborne diseases on population. Hence, this work aims to analyze the spatial distribution of diarrheal diseases in children from zero to four years of age in the municipalities belonging to the Doce river watershed and their possible correlations with water supply and sewage services, as well as to investigate the possible influence of the rupture of the Fundão dam on the incidence rates of diarrheal diseases in the municipalities dependent on water capitation of the Doce river. Although there were no significant correlation between seasonality (Kruskal-Wallis), water and sewage services (Spearman) and the dam rupture on the incidence rates (Mann-Whitney), it was possible to observe that the infant population is the most vulnerable and the distribution of cases are, over the years, concentrated in the northern and eastern portions of the basin. Finally, this research suggests that the monitoring and evaluation of diarrheal diseases should be carried out continuously and that their actions should involve effective integration between the different spheres of health, in order to produce short, medium and long term results that will assist competent bodies in the planning of more effective measures for the prevention and control of childhood diarrhea in the municipalities belonging to the Doce river basin.