Social protection in areas vulnerable to tuberculosis: a mixed methods study in São Luís, Maranhão

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objectives: to analyze the risk areas for tuberculosis and the influences of social protection on the development of treatment for the disease in the municipality of São Luís, Maranhão. Methods: this is explanatory sequential mixed method research. In the quantitative phase, the data were obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System from 2010 to 2019, with georeferencing being carried out to identify areas vulnerable to tuberculosis. In the qualitative phase, semi-structured interviews were carried out with individuals who received social benefits. Results: 7,381 cases were geocoded, and, from the purely spatial scanning analysis, it was possible to identify 13 spatial clusters of risk. As for the interviews, there was a positive relationship between patient improvement and receiving benefits. Conclusions: geographic space and social determinants are relevant for reorienting monitoring actions for the conditions that generate the health-disease process.