[Epidemiological trends of malaria in the State of Mato Grosso, from 1980 to 2003]

The temporal and spatial evolution of malaria in Mato Grosso was determined in periods from 1980-1985, 1986-1991, 1992-1997 and 1998-2003 and distributed by homogeneous microregion. The annual parasitic index of the state rose until 1992 and then diminished to 1.9 cases/1,000 inhabitants in 2003, the ratio of mortality and the lethality rate were greater in the 1980s. Of the 22 microregions, 13 presented an API inferior to 10 cases/1,000 inhabitants in all periods. Cases were concentrated in the microregions of Colíder, Alta Floresta, Aripuanã and Alto Guaporé. In 2003, only the microregion of Aripuanã continued to present an API superior to 50 cases/1,000 inhabitants. The microregions of Colíder, in 1983, 1985 to 1988 and 1990 and Alta Floresta, in 1991 presented deaths over 50/100,000 inhabitants, mainly in males aged 20-49 years. The distribution of the disease in microregions showed that malaria is predominantly found in concentrated sites.