Homens negros com câncer de próstata na região sul do Brasil: perspectivas geográficas da saúde

Abstract

This dissertation analyzes the geographical health perspectives of Black men with prostate cancer in Southern Brazil between 2018 and 2025, aiming to understand how racial, territorial, and socioeconomic factors influence incidence, mortality, and access to healthcare services. It adopts an interdisciplinary approach that combines concepts from Health Geography and the Social Determinants of Health, relying exclusively on secondary data from official systems such as DATASUS and IBGE. Descriptive analyses were carried out to identify relationships between demographic, socioeconomic, and racial variables, highlighting inequalities in the occurrence and outcomes of the disease. The results show that Black men present higher mortality rates and late diagnoses, conditioned by geographic barriers, unequal distribution of resources, and manifestations of structural and institutional racism. These disparities are associated with historical contexts of social exclusion and fragile healthcare provision, reinforcing the importance of territory as an active element in shaping health outcomes. The conclusions indicate that understanding the interaction between race/color, territory, and social conditions is essential to support intersectional and territorially sensitive public policies aimed at reducing inequities and expanding access to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This study contributes to academic reflection by integrating racial, social, and geographical dimensions, highlighting geography as a tool for promoting social justice in health.