The Impact of Deforestation on Malaria Infections in the Brazilian Amazon

The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship of cases of malaria with deforestation in the municipalities of the Amazon, between 2003 and 2012. Among the main results: (1) we find that deforestation has direct and spillovers effects on malaria cases; (2) we find a quadratic relationship between deforestation and malaria, where deforestation areas increase the cases of the disease; but, on the other hand, (3) if this deforestation is intensive, this relationship continues to be positive, but at decreasing rates. The study also found a positive relationship between health public expenditures, inadequate sanitary conditions, GDP (direct effects), forest stock, crops in the region and temperature with cases of the disease. Livestock and spillovers effects for GDP and population density have shown negative relationships with malaria infection. Moreover, no evidence was found that soybean area can affect the dynamics of malaria infection.