Reflections on health and human rights in the context of the Zika epidemic: an integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5020/18061230.2025.14395Keywords:
Zika virus, Human Rights, Sexual and reproductive rights, Right to health, People with disabilitiesAbstract
Objective: To analyze how health and human rights were interconnected during the early stages of the Zika virus epidemic. Method: This integrative literature review was conducted between 2015 and 2019 using the descriptors Zika virus, human rights, sexual and reproductive rights, right to health, socioeconomic rights, and persons with disabilities. The descriptors were combined in pairs, always using Zika virus as the primary descriptor and linking it to the others through the Boolean operator AND. Searches were performed in the LILACS, SciELO, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Results: A total of 16 articles were selected, addressing different dimensions of the epidemic response, including the protection of sexual and reproductive rights, care for children with disabilities resulting from congenital Zika syndrome, intersectoral action, communication in contexts of uncertainty, and public health and sanitation policies. The analyses showed that social, gender, and territorial inequalities intensified the impacts of the epidemic, disproportionately affecting socially vulnerable populations. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for intersectoral public policies capable of ensuring comprehensive care for affected families, protecting sexual and reproductive rights, and guaranteeing access to information.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Berenice de Freitas Diniz, Rose Ferraz Carmo, Zélia Maria Profeta da Luz

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