INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC VARIATIONS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF DISEASES OF THE UPPER AIRWAYS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MONTEIRO – PB

Authors

  • Telma Lucia Bezerra Alves Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Jullianna Vitorio Vieira de Azevedo Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos Universidade Federal de Campina Grande
  • Pedro Vieira de Azevedo Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X16702

Keywords:

Precipitação pluvial, temperatura e umidade do ar, correlação

Abstract

The present study evaluated the effects of climatic variables (precipitation, mean air temperature and relative humidity) on the incidence of upper respiratory tract illnesses in the municipality of Monteiro – PB. The datasets of occurrence of hospitalizations for diseases of the upper respiratory tract (HDURT) in the municipality of Monteiro PB was obtained from the Department of the SUS - DATASUS, whose information can be found on the Ministry of Health website, for the period 2008 to 2012. The climate da ta (rainfall, average air temperature and relative humidity), also corresponding to the period from 2008 to 2012, were collected from the National Institute of Meteorology (INMET) site, coming from automatic meteorological stations. The linear Spearman correlation was used to assess the degree of correlation between climate variables and the number of HDURT. The results showed that: a) the maximum values of the number of records HDURT occur during the autumn-winter (March to August) and minimum during the spring-summer (September to February), being lower in the year 2012 (drier year with rainfall below average) when compared to that summer of 2006 and 2008 (years with wetter summers). The climate variables showed a rainy season that extends from March to May, with rainfall less uniform variable and very weak correlation with the records of HDURT (R² = 0.119), with a peak in May. The monthly average air temperature showed low variability, being higher in the summer (December to March) and lower in the winter (June-August), with a minimum in July. The relative humidity was always lower in period of spring and early summer (September to December) and higher in the winter period (from June to August); c) The average number of monthly records of URTI was inversely correlated with air temperature (R² = 0.512) and showed a strong increasing / positive correlation with relative humidity (R² = 0.912).

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Author Biographies

Telma Lucia Bezerra Alves, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Geógrafa, Doutoranda em Recursos Naturais - UFCG

Jullianna Vitorio Vieira de Azevedo, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Enfermeira, Mestranda em recursos Naturais - UFCG

Carlos Antonio Costa dos Santos, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Professor Adjunto da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Atmosféricas (UACA).

Pedro Vieira de Azevedo, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande

Meteorologista, Professor Adjunto da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG), Unidade Acadêmica de Ciências Atmosféricas (UACA).

Published

2015-09-26

How to Cite

Alves, T. L. B., Azevedo, J. V. V. de, Santos, C. A. C. dos, & Azevedo, P. V. de. (2015). INFLUENCE OF CLIMATIC VARIATIONS IN THE OCCURRENCE OF DISEASES OF THE UPPER AIRWAYS IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MONTEIRO – PB. Ciência E Natura, 37(3), 433–450. https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X16702

Issue

Section

Geography

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