Análise dos dados de vigilância da fluoretação de sistemas de abastecimento de água em Minas Gerais - um estudo ecológico

Abstract

This study analyzed the implementation of surveillance activities for fluoride concentration in public water supply systems in municipalities of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2015 and 2023. Official data from the Drinking Water Quality Surveillance Information System and the National Basic Sanitation Survey were used. Municipalities with four or more months of records per year were considered to have valid information, and those with four or more months presenting mean fluoride concentrations between 0.554 and 0.844 mgF/L were classified as regular. Of the 853 municipalities in Minas Gerais, 81.1% (n = 692) were served by systems that reported performing water fluoridation. Between 2015 and 2023, the number of municipalities with valid fluoride information increased from eight to 32, with greater concentration in the southern region of the state. During this period, the proportion of municipalities with regular fluoridation decreased from 87.5% (7/8) to 56.3% (18/32). Despite the expansion of records, fluoridation surveillance remained limited and regionally concentrated, suggesting administrative negligence in the management of the water quality surveillance system in Minas Gerais.