CENÁRIO DA MORTALIDADE POR CÂNCER DE PRÓSTATA NO NORDESTE BRASILEIRO: ANÁLISES ESPACIAIS E TEMPORAIS

The objective of this study is to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of prostate cancer mortality in Northeast Brazil from 2012 to 2022. Mortality data were obtained from a secondary database and analyzed using geoprocessing techniques and temporal analysis. Temporal trends were assessed using the Joinpoint Regression Program, while spatial clusters were identified through spatial autocorrelation, applying Global and Local Moran’s I indices. In Northeast Brazil, 46,169 deaths from prostate cancer were recorded, predominantly among mixed-race men over 80 years old, married, and with no formal education. The average mortality rate in the region was 15.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, increasing by 3.4% from 2012 to 2017, followed by a stationary trend until 2022. High-rate clusters were identified in the states of Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, and Bahia. This study underscores the need to reformulate health policies and ensure continuous monitoring of the targets established by the National Policy for Cancer Prevention and Control.