Sanitation and health in Vista Alegre do Juá: perceptions, incidence of diseases and development of SaneData in Santarém - PA
Vista Alegre do Juá. Sanitation. Health. SaneData. Perception.
The Vista Alegre do Juá occupation, established by the Workers’ Movement for Housing (MTLM) in 2011, faces significant challenges related to sanitation and health. This study investigated residents’ perceptions of basic sanitation conditions and their relationship with associated diseases. The specific objectives were to identify the sanitation profile in the area, analyze the incidence of related diseases, and develop an information panel, SaneData, for the region studied. The sample included 60 inhabitants, out of a total of approximately 5,000, distributed representatively across three areas: A1 (Beira Rio – North), A2 (Vitória and Espírito Santo – Central), and A3 (Fernando Guilhon – South), with 20 questionnaires administered in each. The methodology combined data collection through questionnaires and analysis of secondary data from the Brazilian Sanitation Panel. The responses were tabulated in Excel, and information on diseases was spatialized using QGIS software. Secondary data from the Brazilian Sanitation Panel were also incorporated into the SaneData panel, with the aim of democratizing access to information and contributing to the debate on access to sanitation, a fundamental human right. The panel also aims to assist government agencies in formulating public policies. The results showed great dissatisfaction with basic sanitation and health services in the three areas studied, in addition to a high incidence of diseases such as diarrhea and dengue fever. The study concluded that it is crucial to improve sanitation infrastructure and strengthen health services to contribute to improving the quality of life of the residents of the occupation.