Health and Safety in Brazil

The quality of healthcare systems in Brazil differs from region to region and in the smaller cities, there are shortages of doctors and hospitals. While Brazil offers a public health care system, its coverage is not extensive and the quality and promptness of public health care is not as good as the service offered by private health care.

Diseases such as yellow fever and malaria are common in Brazil so appropriate precautions must be taken. Brazil also has the third highest rate of HIV/AIDS infection in the world and contaminated blood is held to be largely responsible for the rapid spread of the disease.

The crime rate in Brazil is high and continues to rise. Street crime remains a problem for visitors and local residents alike, especially in the evenings and late at night. Foreign tourists are often targets of crime. “Quicknappings”, theft and pickpocketing are major problems. Rapes and murders also occur and care should be taken while traveling alone or going out during the night time.