Global burden of neglected tropical diseases: Integrative review of trends, inequalities and challenges for achieving the 2030 Agenda targets
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v15i5.51167Keywords:
Neglected Diseases, Global Burden of Disease, Health Inequities, Sustainable Development Goals, Public Health Surveillance.Abstract
Objective: To analyze the global burden of neglected tropical diseases, identifying epidemiological trends, structural inequalities, and the main challenges to achieving the targets established by the 2030 Agenda. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review, conducted through searches in the PubMed/MEDLINE, SciELO, and Google Scholar databases, covering studies published between 2019 and 2024. Original articles, reviews, and institutional documents addressing burden indicators, morbidity and mortality, DALYs, inequalities, and strategies for tackling neglected tropical diseases were included. Study selection followed the PRISMA 2020 recommendations, resulting in 20 publications included in the final synthesis. Results: The evidence showed that neglected tropical diseases remain associated with a high epidemiological burden, especially among populations exposed to poverty, inadequate sanitation, low healthcare coverage, and socio-environmental vulnerabilities. The persistence of diseases such as leprosy, Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, leishmaniases, and dengue was observed, in addition to geographic redistribution influenced by urbanization, climate change, migratory flows, and weaknesses in surveillance. Conclusions: Addressing neglected tropical diseases requires integrated, intersectoral, and territorialized responses, combining early diagnosis, timely treatment, qualified surveillance, sanitation, social protection, and the reduction of structural inequalities.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Gerson de Souza Santos, Jamilli Morais da Silva, João Carlos Alves Barbosa, Thiago Novais Tome, Rebeca Rodrigues Barroso de Souza, Pedro Paulo Pio Araujo, Paolla Vitória de Jesus Souza
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