[ABSTRACT]. Objectives. To assess the accumulated
knowledge of the effects of
public health emergencies of international concern on
disease control and
local health systems, and contribute to a better
understanding of their effects on
health programs and systems.
Methods. This was a
systematic review of published and
gray literature (in English, Portuguese, or Spanish).
Electronic databases (BVS/
LILACS,
PubMed, and SciELO) and Google Scholar were searched. Search terms were COVID-19 OR H1N1 OR Ebola OR Zika OR
poliomyelitis AND (
outbreaks OR
epidemics) AND (
public health systems OR
public health surveillance). Results. A total of 3 508 studies were retrieved, of which 31 met the inclusion criteria. The studies addressed the effects of the
emergencies on
communicable diseases notification systems;
malaria,
HIV/
AIDS, tubercu- losis,
poliomyelitis, and
malaria surveillance, control, and
treatment;
microcephaly;
dengue; and
vaccinations. The
populations affected by the
emergencies experienced reduced
health services, which included fewer
health visits, failures in the diagnostic chain, decrease in
vaccination, and increased
incidence or underreport- ing of notifiable
diseases. Conclusions. Socioeconomic inequity is a determinant of the effects of
public health emergencies of inter- national concern within affected
populations. The diversion of
resources and
attention from
health authorities disproportionately
affects vulnerable populations and can
lead, over
time, to a weakening of
health systems. The
analysis of the effects of
public health emergencies is important for the development of new
protocols that can better respond to
future crises.