some communities have been developed to a point of barely resembling a favela, while others are a few years behind in the process. this is an important distinction to keep in mind when evaluating some safety elements, some other elements such as climate and insects are valid across the board.

a common issue with some of the less developed favelas is a lack of sanitation and environmental hygiene, such as proper sewage and generally insufficient drainage resulting in standing, dirty water.

reservoirs of water that  collect in the warm, humid corridors of these communities serve as prime breeding grounds for unfriendly insects such as mosquitoes, which to this day continue to contribute to the spread of dengue fever and other infectious diseases throughout rio de janeiro city and state.