TUBERCULOSIS IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN BAHIA: ANALYSIS OF CASE TRENDS IN THE HEALTH MACROREGIONS OF THE STATE OF BAHIA (BRAZIL) BETWEEN 2010 AND 2024
1
Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Bahia, Brazil
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A1336
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Among children and adolescents under 19, TB reflects inequalities in prevention, diagnosis, and care. In Brazil, Bahia’s sociodemographic diversity and regional disparities provide a relevant setting to examine these inequities. This study aims to describe TB occurrence in individuals under 19 across Bahia’s health macro-regions from 2010 to 2024.
RESULTS:
Between 2010 and 2024, 5,568 new TB cases were reported in individuals under 19 in Bahia. Despite being the most economically developed region, the Eastern Macro-region concentrated 52% of cases (incidence of 15.9 per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by the Southern Macro-region. This pattern suggests that aggregate development does not guarantee equity and may mask pockets of vulnerability and intra-municipal inequality. In contrast, the Western and North-Central macro-regions maintained significantly lower notification trends. The clinical and demographic profile showed a predominance of pulmonary TB (84%), male sex (54%), and the 15-19 age group (67% of cases), highlighting the transition from childhood to adolescent TB. Self-declared brown race/color was predominant (60%), but the high proportion of ignored or unfilled records (about 10%) limits a more precise analysis of structural racism's impact, indicating a failure in including essential data for equitable policies.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results demonstrate that TB in children and adolescents in Bahia, as in Brazil, is a persistent public health challenge requiring an intersectional lens. The analysis suggests a profile marked by disparities reflecting territorial and social inequities, potentially masking vulnerability pockets. The concentration of cases in the most developed region unveils the "internal frontiers" of inequality, where aggregate wealth does not necessarily translate into universal health protection. This demands policies that identify and include vulnerable groups within these territories, ensuring equitable and sustainable health strategies.
Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations. Among children and adolescents under 19, TB reflects inequalities in prevention, diagnosis, and care. In Brazil, Bahia’s sociodemographic diversity and regional disparities provide a relevant setting to examine these inequities. This study aims to describe TB occurrence in individuals under 19 across Bahia’s health macro-regions from 2010 to 2024.
RESULTS:
Between 2010 and 2024, 5,568 new TB cases were reported in individuals under 19 in Bahia. Despite being the most economically developed region, the Eastern Macro-region concentrated 52% of cases (incidence of 15.9 per 100,000 inhabitants), followed by the Southern Macro-region. This pattern suggests that aggregate development does not guarantee equity and may mask pockets of vulnerability and intra-municipal inequality. In contrast, the Western and North-Central macro-regions maintained significantly lower notification trends. The clinical and demographic profile showed a predominance of pulmonary TB (84%), male sex (54%), and the 15-19 age group (67% of cases), highlighting the transition from childhood to adolescent TB. Self-declared brown race/color was predominant (60%), but the high proportion of ignored or unfilled records (about 10%) limits a more precise analysis of structural racism's impact, indicating a failure in including essential data for equitable policies.
CONCLUSIONS:
The results demonstrate that TB in children and adolescents in Bahia, as in Brazil, is a persistent public health challenge requiring an intersectional lens. The analysis suggests a profile marked by disparities reflecting territorial and social inequities, potentially masking vulnerability pockets. The concentration of cases in the most developed region unveils the "internal frontiers" of inequality, where aggregate wealth does not necessarily translate into universal health protection. This demands policies that identify and include vulnerable groups within these territories, ensuring equitable and sustainable health strategies.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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