ANÁLISE ESPACIAL DOS TRANSTORNOS DO HUMOR, NO ESTADO DO MARANHÃO, BRASIL

Abstract

The prevalence of mental disorders in the state of Maranhão is high, ranging from 17% to 35%. Mood disorders, also known as affective disorders, represent a significant burden among psychiatric diseases, including depressive disorder and bipolar disorder. At the same time, there is a lack of research related to this topic in terms of public health. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of hospitalizations due to mood disorders from 2010 to 2021 in the state of Maranhão. It is an ecological study conducted using secondary data, extracted from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS), specifically from the Hospital Information System (SIH), and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). To assess the distribution of hospitalizations due to mood disorders, geoprocessing techniques were employed to create thematic maps using free software QGis 3.28.13 and GeoDa 1.22. Between 2010 and 2021, 20,773 cases of hospitalizations were reported in the state, with 2010 showing the highest occurrence (11.9%). A higher percentage of hospitalizations was observed among males (56.6%), individuals aged 19–39 years (52.6%), and those identified as white (42.6%). São Luís, the state capital, was the municipality with the highest number of reports (93.4%). Bipolar Affective Disorder was the main reason for hospitalizations (38.7%), with an average hospital stay of 30.4 days and a standard deviation of 8.1. The outcome of death was infrequent (0.02%). The spatial distribution revealed heterogeneity, with a significant concentration of reports in São Luís and municipalities close to the capital, as well as in regions near borders with other states. Regions were identified that require improvements in the mental health network and more effective interventions to meet the population's needs. Let me know if you'd like any further adjustments.