Temporal and spatial analysis of the incidence of syphilis acquired in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2011 to 2021.

Acquired syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection. This ecological study analyzed the spatiotemporal heterogeneity of incidence and associated factors of acquired syphilis in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2011 to 2021, based on data from the Minas Gerais Health Surveillance Portal, distributed by Planning Regions according to João Pinheiro Foundation. Generalized additive models investigated the relationship between incidence rates and year, while spatiotemporal analyses were conducted using the Satscan software. Correlations between incidence and social inequality indicators (Gini Index, Human Development Index) as well as Family Health Strategy coverage were assessed using Spearman and bivariate Moran analyses for the period 2017-2019. A conditional autoregressive model estimated risks in municipalities. A total of 83,432 cases of acquired syphilis were reported, predominantly among men, pardos individuals, those with a high school education, and aged 20-29 years. Municipalities with risks greater than 1 were concentrated in the Central region. Higher coverage was associated with lower disease incidence. Expanding access to primary care is essential to reduce the impact of regional disparities on the incidence of diseases like syphilis.