Atendimentos de emergência na rede de vigilância de violências e acidentes em Mato Grosso, Brasil, 2008

Abstract

External causes (accidents and violence) are a major public health problem in Brazil. Their victims generate significant demand for emergency services, but statistics on these appointments are rare. To cover this gap, the Ministry of Health established in 2006, a Network of Sentinel Services for Violence and Accidents Surveillance (VIVA). This study describes the characteristics of victims and events related to external causes, registered in the services of the Network “VIVA” in Mato Grosso. This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study which data were collected in September of 2008. Data collection took place in alternate shifts of 12 hours, using a form developed by the Ministry of Health. About 95 victims were reported per day, mostly during the daytime, especially caused by traffic accidents and falls; mainly young adult males, and black people. Although the suspected use of alcohol was low, it was much higher among men. Most of the victims were discharged to home and little could be inferred about the lethality. The analysis of the emergency services data, concerning the victims of accidents and violence, may reveal what is behind the information available by the mortality system and the hospital morbidity system, allowing the monitoring and reduction of accidents and violence.