Tuberculosis in Portugal: Intertwining History and Public Health Development

Fabiana M. Ribeiro (), Pedro Soares, Teresa Rito and Ana Maria Silva
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Fabiana M. Ribeiro: Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, CC Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
Pedro Soares: Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Teresa Rito: Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology (CBMA), School of Sciences, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
Ana Maria Silva: Research Centre for Anthropology and Health (CIAS), Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, CC Martim de Freitas, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal

World, 2025, vol. 6, issue 2, 1-16

Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major cause of global mortality and is a significant public health challenge, including in specific Portuguese regions. Key aspects in understanding TB’s historical dynamics and impacts on past and present populations are to consider cultural changes and the implementation of public health policies through time. Therefore, this survey aims to provide a more accurate history of TB in Portugal, based on the analysis of sanitary measures through time, illustrating the role of TB in the evolution of public health in Portugal. For this, bibliographic research was conducted across various academic databases and major Portuguese libraries, statistical archives, and public health repositories. Therefore, a detailed chronology, along with some new statistical data, is presented and correlated with sanitary and public health measures, illustrating the role of TB in the evolution of the public health system in Portugal. This research enhances our understanding of the past and sheds light on ongoing TB challenges.

Keywords: Koch’s bacillus; health policies; epidemiological trends; history of public health; Iberia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: G15 G17 G18 L21 L22 L25 L26 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 R51 R52 R58 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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