PARASITIC AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES AFFECTING RIVERSIDE POPULATIONS DURING FLOOD SEASONS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON: INTEGRATIVE REVIEW

Abstract

The hydrological dynamics of the Amazon, marked by cyclical flooding, impose environmental conditions on riverside populations that favor the spread of infectious and parasitic diseases. This study conducted an integrative literature review, with a systematized search in the SCIELO, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases, covering scientific publications from 2014 to 2024. Of the 165 articles identified, 15 composed the final sample after screening based on methodological and thematic criteria. The analysis showed that, during flood periods, the interaction between socioeconomic factors, structural deficiencies in basic sanitation, water contamination, and household storage practices increases the occurrence of health problems such as acute diarrheal diseases, giardiasis, amebiasis, hepatitis A, cholera, leptospirosis, and geohelminth infections. It was also found that forced displacement, material losses, and the disruption of community support networks intensify psychosocial impacts, increasing the vulnerability of these groups. The findings reinforce that flooding events are not merely natural phenomena but intensifiers of structural inequalities, requiring territorialized public policies, strengthened environmental surveillance, continuous health education, and expanded primary care coverage. It is concluded that sustained and intersectoral interventions are essential to mitigate risks, reduce the incidence of health problems, and promote more equitable health conditions among Amazonian riverside populations..