ANALYSIS OF THE HEALTH SITUATION OF SAMAMBAIA-FEDERAL DISTRICT: SOCIOECONOMIC INEQUALITIES, EPIDEMIOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY, AND CHALLENGES FOR THE HEALTH NETWORK

Abstract

Introduction: The Samambaia Administrative Region (AR), the second most populous in the Federal District of Brazil, faces significant public health challenges linked to the epidemiological transition, population growth, and rapid urbanization, all of which underscore the importance of health planning. Objective: To analyze the health situation in Samambaia by correlating health indicators with the socioeconomic context and the available public health network. Methodology: A Health Situation Analysis (HSA) was conducted using publicly accessible secondary data from the Federal District Government, employing a situational analysis approach covering the period from 2016 to 2024. Results: The HSA reveals a highly populous region characterized by significant poverty, food insecurity, and low educational

attainment among residents; while urban infrastructure is good, there are marked internal inequalities and a high degree of local vulnerability. The public network offers near-universal Primary Health Care (PHC) coverage alongside secondary and hospital services, although the supply of hospital beds is limited. There is a concurrent burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), infectious diseases, and external causes; notable findings include high hospitalization rates for conditions sensitive to PHC, a significant NCD burden among premature deaths, and weaknesses in the detection and management of communicable diseases. Conclusion: The HSA highlighted the coexistence of social and health vulnerabilities alongside multiple epidemiological issues, despite extensive PHC coverage. The findings underscore the need to improve care for NCDs and communicable diseases, strengthen intersectoral coordination to address inequalities and violence, and utilize the HSA as a tool for planning and setting priorities within the territory.