Dataset on Brazilian Municipal Health Policies During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Brazil was severely affected by COVID-19, in terms of both the number of infections and deaths. Part of the complexity and mismanagement of health measures in Brazil stemmed from the lack of nationwide policies, leaving local governments to play the key role in implementing pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions. This fragmented response, with different health policies across 5,568 municipalities, posed significant challenges for researchers analysing dispersed data. This study consolidates information from 37 surveys conducted between 23 March 2021 and 24 March 2022 with mayors and health secretaries of Brazilian municipalities. The surveys, conducted by the Brazilian Confederation of Municipalities, achieved response rates ranging from 23.8% to 64.49%. Questions varied to address key epidemiological issues, including vaccination efforts, ICU bed availability, oxygen supplies, and restrictive measures. Disparities in response rates highlight Brazil's regional and municipal size inequalities. This dataset, with 235 questions, provides essential insights into local governance, contributing to the study of outbreak management in contexts of inequality and political asymmetry.