Legal Medical Institute Research Articles

A comprehensive epidemiological assessment of female rape in São Paulo State, Brazil: trends, patterns, and implications for public health.

Sexual violence against women remains a global challenge, with Brazil exemplifying persistent issues despite legislative advancements. This study examined sexual violence within São Paulo state, Brazil's largest and economically affluent state, focusing on prevalence, patterns, forensic evidence, and health consequences. We analyzed 40,757 medical reports of alleged cases of rape against women available from the São Paulo Medical Legal Institute from 2014 to 2017. An increase in female rape cases was observed, reflecting broader societal trends, but underreporting, prevalent due to fear and stigma, underscored the need for multifaceted interventions. We also explored correlations between rape prevalence and the Human Development Index, highlighting disparities between urban and rural areas. Additionally, the study revealed concerning proportions of cases involving vulnerable victims, emphasizing the imperative for tailored interventions and legislative reforms. Furthermore, we demonstrated that only a small portion of medicolegal examinations were able to find evidence of sexual violence or recent sexual acts, necessary for conducting the criminal investigation of the alleged act. Therefore, despite challenges in forensic evidence collection, efforts to enhance medical examination protocols and awareness among professionals are crucial. Moreover, findings underscored the significant health consequences of rape, including unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, necessitating comprehensive healthcare services for survivors. In conclusion, we reinforced that addressing sexual violence demands coordinated action, including legislative reforms, community engagement, and survivor-centered approaches, to create safer and more resilient communities.

Suicide victims and alcohol-related consumption in Brazil: An observational study and a narrative review of the literature.

Deaths due to external causes, mainly suicide, are a severe public health problem in Brazil. Evidence shows that the tendency to impulsive behavior is exacerbated after alcohol consumption. The relationship between alcohol and suicide is poorly described in the medical literature. The study aims to analyze the relationship between victims' blood alcohol levels and suicides in some municipalities in Greater São Paulo, Brazil. We reviewed the data from the medical records of 805 necropsies performed at the Medical Legal Institute of Sao Paulo in Franco da Rocha, Brazil, from 2001 to 2017. The manner of death was established based on the result of police inquiry. Deaths due to suicide (n=41) were selected for the study. Descriptive statistics and Student t-test was applied when appropriate. The variables studied were sex, age, suicide mechanism, and blood alcohol level (BAC). In all cases we could not determine how much time the deceased consumed alcohol before suicide. Of the individuals analyzed, 85.36% were male, and 14.64% were female. The most prevalent age range for males was between 18 and 23 (19.5%). For females, it was between 12 and 23 years (33.2%). Most suicides (48.78%) were due to hanging, followed by self-poisoning (22.08%) and firearms (17.1%). 38 victims (92.68%) presented a positive BAC, over 0.3 mg/dl. The higher levels were in the group of suicide by hanging (2.3 mg/ml). Thus, alcohol intoxication is common among suicide victims, and it can contribute to the fatal outcome as a risk factor. Further studies are necessary for a better comprehension of the effect of alcohol on suicide victims.

Homicide Victims and Alcohol Related Consumption in Brazil

Introduction: Deaths due to external causes, mainly homicides, are a serious public health problem in Brazil. There is evidence that the tendency to impulsive and / or violent behavior is exacerbated after alcohol consumption. Otherwise, the relationship between alcohol and violent deaths is described in the medical literature without much precision. Objective: Analyze the relationship between victims' blood alcohol levels and homicides, in the micro-region formed by some municipalities in Greater São Paulo. Methods: Retrospectively, we reviewed the data from the medical records of 805 necropsies performed at the Medical Legal Institute of Sao Paulo (IML-SP) in Franco da Rocha, Brazil, from 2001 to 2017. Descriptive statistics were calculated to assess BAC testing status among decedents overall. The variables studied were sex, age, manner of death and blood alcohol level (BAC). Results: Of the 230 individuals analyzed, 200 (86.9%) were male and 30 (13.04%) female. The most prevalent age range for males was between 18 and 23 years (19.5%). For the women group it was between 12 and 23 years (33.2%). The vast majority of homicides (n = 162, 70.4%) was due to firearms, followed by sharp force and blunt force trauma (13% each one). Of the 230 cases of homicide victims analyzed, 205 (89,1%) presented a positive blood alcohol level (BAC), e.g, over 0,3 mg/dl. In the group of homicide victims by firearm, 57 (24,7%) of them presented a median value of BAC of 1.3 mg/ml. Discussion and Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that alcohol intoxication was common in homicide victims in Franco da Rocha from 2001-2017. It also confirms some findings from other researchers linking blood alcohol and deaths from unnatural causes. Our study showed that majority of victims are young adults, and most of them were under alcohol effect when they were murdered. So, the fact that the victims were drunk can contribute to the fatal outcome, in cases of homicide. This approach alone cannot establish that alcohol consumption is a risk factor for become a victim of homicide and further studies are necessary to a better comprehension of the effect of alcohol in homicide victims.

Vasculhar pedaços, produzir papéis: sobre vestígios e técnicas de perícia

Abstract This article seeks to unveil the many narrative, graphic and formal layers that give rise to the forensics reports on rape and sexual assault crimes, produced by the Legal Medical Institute of Campinas ( Instituto Médico Legal - IML), between 2004 and 2005. Therefore, I start from the graphic model that shapes these papers – its layout-form – to gradually show the narrative formula contained in them: pieces of flesh . Finally, by following these paths, I intend to show how the criminal materiality of rape and sexual assault is confused with the materiality of the sex of girls, boys and women who are taken care of at this institution.

Violent criminal death involving face, head and neck: processes, expert reports and epidemiological data

In criminal lawsuits, the magistrate often needs technical contribution of an expert on the subject related to the crime, for the application of the penal sanction. This study aimed to analyze lawsuits, expert reports and epidemiological data of violent death cases, in which there was involvement of the face, head and neck in the region that covered by the Legal Medical Institute (LMI) of Araraquara-SP. For this purpose, decisions of the Court of Justice of São Paulo State were researched, in the period from 2012 to September 2017. The judgments were read and those related to consummated homicide, body injury followed by death and robbery were selected. The expert reports corresponding to the selected cases were searched in the LMI of Araraquara. This search resulted in 49 reports, which were analyzed. We observed that the majority of homicide and robbery victims were male, white, under 40 years of age and of low education level. The epidemiological data found were consistent with the data presented by Brazilian government agencies. The expert reports analyzed were performed exclusively by medical examiners, using technical language and detailed description of the lesions and the instruments that caused them. The most frequent causes of death were traumatic brain injury (41.67%), multiple trauma (10.42%), hemorrhagic shock (10.42%) and anemia (10.42%). The most frequent instruments, which caused injuries, were the perforating-blunt (26.42%), the forceful (22.64%) and the perforating-cutting (20.75%). In general, the reports presented good quality, tending to be of great help for the clarification of criminal justice.

Avaliação da técnica fotográfica nas autópsias forenses do Instituto Médico Legal de Porto Velho – RO, no Brasil

Photography in forensic autopsies of violent death is intended to document the material evidence of the offense and guide decisions in the courts of law. In this paper, we tested the hypothesis that the current photographs, presented in the forensic reports of the Dr. José Adelino da Silva Legal Medical Institute, in Porto Velho, located in the capital of the State of Rondônia, in Brazil, would be inappropriate for not meeting the criteria that must contribute to the final quality of forensic photography. Through a retrospective analysis, we evaluated the quality of the photographs incorporated in the reports of the forensic autopsies related to violent death. We concluded that more than half of the incorporated photographs (52.6%) were not technically feasible and, regarding this criterion, they should not have been used in the reports. Considering the limitations found, it is suggested strategies to be adopted at the Institute to correct them, being essential the elaboration of a protocol with the harmonized procedures for the photographic record of the forensic autopsies with a view to improving the forensic expert reports.

Drowning in the elderly in Paraíba-Brazil

Drowning is a global problem, and is among the main causes of death in the world, and the elderly are part of this new reality as a special group who also suffer submersion accidents. The aim of this study was to analyze deaths due to drowning in the elderly in the state of Paraíba from 2005 to 2015. This is a retrospective, descriptive study associated with spatial analysis of regions with a higher incidence of drowning in people aged 60 years or older in the state of Paraíba. Data were collected from the IML (Gemol and Numol) records from 2005 to 2015, totaling 80 cases of drowning. Sociodemographic characteristics such as age group, gender, spatiality and local description of the occurrence (rivers, dams, sea, waterfall, cacimbas, dams and domestic environments), care provider, file of the Legal Medical Institute of the Scientific Police, international code of diseases – ICD 10 (code W74), shift of occurrence. As results we located the region of Mari sector of the wild region of Paraíba – Açude Olho D’agua (Latitude 7.11º S and Longitude 35.2º ), was the place with the highest number of drownings, where dams/lakes (55%), male (91%), married (46%), aged between 60 and 69 years (60%), the local population made the first care (41%), 14h was of higher occurrence (11%), and on Sundays (29%). We can conclude that drowning occurs in several aquatic scenarios, and in this study occurred in fresh water, several factors were associated with drowning in the elderly, such as cognition deficits, polypharmaceuticals and physical limitations, such outcomes can help encourage protection policies for this group as well as family members guide in freshwater regions and accentuate care.

IDENTIFICAÇÃO ODONTOLEGAL POR MEIO DE TOMOGRAFIA COMPUTADORIZADA PARA PLANEJAMENTO DE IMPLANTES – RELATO DE CASO PERICIAL

A identificação humana post mortem é uma área de estudo e pesquisa de extensa atuação da Odontologia Legal. Nessa área do conhecimento, a forma mais utilizada é a da comparação dos registros ante mortem (AM) com os achados post mortem (PM). Em casos de cadáveres carbonizados, geralmente os elementos dentários são capazes de resistir à ação térmica. Dessa forma, os exames de imagens que integram os prontuários odontológicos, quando em boa qualidade, possibilitam sua comparação com os mesmos exames realizados no cadáver. O propósito desse artigo foi o de relatar um caso em que a comparação de tomografias computadorizadas AM e PM permitiu a identificação positiva de um cadáver carbonizado. A comparação das imagens tomográficas AM, utilizadas para um planejamento reabilitador com implantes, com as imagens PM, realizadas no Instituto Médico Legal da Polícia Civil do Distrito Federal, permitiu, de forma rápida, eficaz e econômica, a identificação positiva do cadáver devido à quantidade e à qualidade dos pontos semelhantes encontrados nas imagens, associados à ausência de divergências inexplicáveis

Aspectos epidemiológicos e deontológicos da mortalidade no trânsito em Roraima

Resumo Este estudo avalia a mortalidade no trânsito em Roraima sob os aspectos da epidemiologia e da deontologia. Trata-se de pesquisa longitudinal e descritiva, que comparou dados do Instituto Médico Legal de Roraima, do Sistema de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes e do Sistema de Informações sobre Mortalidade. A maioria das vítimas era homens (85,2%), pardos (81,5%), residentes em área urbana (81,5%), solteiros (66,7%), com entre 15 e 34 anos (54,9%). As lesões mais comuns foram contusão (96,2%) e fratura (75,5%). As partes mais atingidas foram cabeça (69,8%), membros inferiores (66%) e face (54,7%). A principal causa mortis foi trauma na cabeça (43,4%). Comparando os dados, constatou-se subnotificação da mortalidade no trânsito em Roraima. A reflexão constante é fundamental para estabelecer parâmetros éticos para os profissionais envolvidos, e recomenda-se integrar órgãos da saúde com o Instituto Médico Legal para criar banco de dados que subsidie políticas adaptadas à realidade local. Aprovação CEP-SLM 1.570.471

TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE AND BLOOD ALCOHOL CONTENT OF SUICIDE VICTIMS IN THE FAR WEST OF SANTA CATARINA

Suicide has been a subject of increasing concern and the toxicological and blood alcohol investigate in these victims is little studied. This study investigated the toxicological and blood alcohol profile of suicide victims in 27 municipalities in the extreme west of Santa Catarina. Aggregate time series study, with a survey of epidemiological data and analysis of expert reports by the Medical Legal Institute of all fatal victims of suicide, registered in the period between 2012 to 2016. Results: Males, aged 50-59 years, were the main victims and the hanging the main suicide method. The months of February and November, Sundays and the time of 08:00 to 11:59 were the moments of greater occurrences. Elevated levels of alcohol were observed in 23.97% of the victims and the main drugs found were benzodiazepines and tricyclic antidepressants. The results obtained in this study reinforce the concern regarding cases of suicide and an association between alcohol/drug use and suicidal practices. The data provide subsidies for elaboration and implementation of preventive actions. Professionals should be alert to signs of suicide, so that specialized help becomes a possible option, and is instrumental in reducing the number of suicides.

Urban violence is the biggest cause of fatal work-related accidents in Brazil.

ABSTRACTOBJECTIVETo quantify the occurrence of deaths directly associated with urban violence among fatal work-related accidents.METHODSVerbal autopsies were performed with the relatives and coworkers of residents of Campinas, state of São Paulo, Brazil, who died from external causes in 2015. We have also analyzed police reports and reports of the Legal Medical Institute related to these deaths.RESULTSWe have identified 82 fatal work-related accidents in Campinas in 2015, of which 25 were murders, 35 were traffic accidents not directly related to work activities, and three were suicides at work. The proportional mortality rate for homicides, traffic accidents, and suicides among fatal work-related accidents was estimated at 30.5%, 42.7%, and 3.7%, respectively.CONCLUSIONSUrban violence accounted for three-fourths of the fatal work-related accidents recorded in the period studied.

Suicides by hanging and its association with meteorological conditions in São Paulo

The main goal of this study was to evaluate the association between daily cases of hanging suicides and meteorological conditions in São Paulo, Brazil. We considered a retrospective observational study based on the analysis of all necroscopic medical-expert reports available in digital form from the central unit of the Instituto Médico Legal (Medical Legal Institute) of São Paulo between July 1, 2006 and June 31, 2007. The meteorological variables were combined via Principal Components Analysis. In order to explain their association with the frequency of suicides, Poisson regression models were employed. The analysis suggests that hotter and brighter days are associated with higher incidence of hanging suicides.

Atuação do cirurgião-dentista no Instituto Geral de Perícias de Joinville, SC

A Odontologia possui amplo campo de atuação, sendo a Odontologia Legal a especialidade exercida junto a serviços oficiais: Instituto Geral de Perícias, Instituto de Criminalística e Instituto Médico Legal. Nessas instituições, o odontolegista pode proceder a exames de corpo delito, necropsias odontolegais, exames de balística, DNA, exames tanatológicos e antropológicos, entre outros. O presente estudo analisou laudos de exames de corpo de delito de lesões que envolveram o complexo maxilomandibular de pessoas que se submeteram à perícia no Instituto Geral de Perícias do Estado de Santa Catarina entre os anos de 2012 e 2014. No período de estudo foram registrados 14310 laudos, sendo 1210 (8,45%) referentes a lesões maxilomandibulares. Destas, 96,2% eram lesões maxilomandibulares e 3,8% lesões em outras regiões, por mordedura humana. Constatou-se que 97,2% dos laudos envolvendo o complexo bucomaxilofacial foram preenchidos por médicos e apenas 2,8% por cirurgiões-dentistas.

Head and maxillofacial injuries in child and adolescent victims of automotive accidents.

Background. Victims of motor vehicle accidents may suffer multiple lesions, including maxillofacial injuries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with head, facial, and maxillofacial injuries in child and adolescent victims of automobile accidents. A cross-sectional study was carried out with analysis of forensic medical reports from the Legal Medical Institute of Campina Grande, Brazil, between January 2008 and December 2011. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis was conducted using the chi-square test (α = 0.05). From 1613 medical reports analyzed, the sample is composed 232 (14.4%) reports referring to child and adolescent victims of automobile accidents aged 0–19 years of both sexes. Victims were mostly adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years (64.2%), males (73.7%), and motorcyclists (51.3%). More than half of the victims had single lesions (54.3%) located in the head (20.7%) and face (21.6%). Head injuries occurred more frequently in children aged 0–4 years (53.8%, PR = 5.065, 95% CI = 1.617–5.870) and pedestrians (30.4%, PR = 2.039, 95% CI = 1.024–4.061), while facial and maxillofacial injuries occurred in higher proportion among females (31.1%, PR = 0.489, 95% CI = 0.251–0.954). Our findings suggest that accidents involving motorcyclists are the most prevalent, affecting male adolescents aged from 15 to 19 years, resulting in a high frequency of injuries in the head and face regions.

Influence of Vision and Dental Occlusion on Body Posture in Pilots

Air force pilots have great postural control, movement coordination, motor learning, and motor transformation. They undergo abnormal stresses during flight that affect their organs and systems, with consequences such as barodontalgia, bruxism, TMJ dysfunctions, and cervical pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of dental occlusion and vision on their body posture. In collaboration with the "A. Mosso" Legal Medical Institute (Aeronautica Militare), two groups, consisting of 20 air force and 20 civilian pilots, were selected for the study using a protocol approved by the Italian Air Force. An oral examination and a force platform test were performed in order to evaluate the subjects' postural system efficiency. A MANOVA (Multivariate analysis of variance) analysis was performed by using the Wilkes' criterion, in order to statistically evaluate the influence of each factor. Both the sway area and velocity parameters are very strongly influenced by vision: the sway area increases by approximately 32% and the sway velocity increases by approximately 50% when the pilot closes his eyes. Only the sway area parameter was significantly influenced by the mandibular position: the mandibular position with eyes open changed the sway area by about 51% and with eyes closed by about 40%. No statistically significant differences were found between air force and civilian pilots. The results of this analysis show that occlusion and visual function could influence posture in air force and civilian pilots.

Abstract 9300: Gene Polymorphisms In Il-10 And Inf-γ are Associated With Early Atherosclerosis In Coronary but not in Carotid Arteries: A Study Of 122 Autopsy Cases of Young Adults

Atherosclerosis is a complex disease that involves both genetic and environmental factors. However, the influence of genetic variations to its early development remains unclear. We examined the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with atherosclerotic severity in the anterior descendent coronary (DA, n=103) and carotid arteries (CA, n=66) in individuals under 30 years autopsied at the Legal Medical Institute of Rio de Janeiro. Histological sections, stained with hematoxilin-eosin, were classified for atherosclerosis severity accordingly to the American Heart Association. SNPs in the ECA, TNF-α (-308G/A and -238 G/A), IFN-γ (+874 A/T), MMP-9 (-1562 C/T), IL-10 (-1082 A/G and -819 C/T), NOS3 (894 G/T), ApoA1 ( rs964184 ), and ApoE (E2E3E4 isoforms) genes were genotyped by automatic sequencing. Population mean age was 26 years (107 males and 15 females). DA and CA histology showed, respectively: normal arteries in 2 and 1 cases; level I atherosclerotic lesion in 0 and 5; level II in 16 and 12; level III in 71 and 26; level IV in 6 and 19; and level V in 8 and 3 cases. Genotype distribution was as follow: ECA: 49 DD (related to high ECA levels), 18 II (related with low ECA levels) and 48 DI; TNF-α: 59 GG, 21 GA, and 8 AA at position -308 (allele A associated with high TNF-α level), and 84 GG, 3 GA, and 2 AA at position -238; INF-γ: 45 subjects with allele T (related to high INF-γ levels); MMP-9: 49 CC, 14 CT, and 3 TT; IL-10: 31 AA, 10 AG, and 7 GG at position -1082 (allele G related to high IL-10 levels), and 25 CC, 12 TC, and 15 TT at position -819; NOS3: 59 GG, 35 GT, and 0 TT; ApoA1: 55 CC, 39 CG, and 0 GG; ApoE: 56 E3E3, 30 E3E4, 12 E2E3, 1 E2E4, and 1E4E4. IFN-γ and IL-10 (-1082 A/G) were significantly related to atherosclerotic severity in DA artery, while no association was observed for CA. In conclusion, we observed a high prevalence of early atherosclerosis in young adults, with significant association of IFN-γ (p < 0.001) and IL-10 (p = 0.013) genotypes with coronary disease severity.

Abstract P106: Polymorphisms in Candidate Genes and Early Atherosclerosis: A Study of 115 Autopsy Cases of Young Adults

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of death, is a complex disease, involving both genetic and environmental factors. Chronic inflammation plays a central role in its pathogenesis; however, the influence of genetic variations on early development of atherosclerosis has been poorly investigated. We examined the relationship of five common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with atherosclerotic severity in the anterior descendent coronary artery (DA) in 115 consecutive individuals under 30 years autopsied at the Legal Medical Institute of Rio de Janeiro. Histological sections were stained with hematoxilin-eosin and classified for atherosclerosis lesion accordingly to the American Heart Association. DNA was extracted and genotyped for SNPs in the angiotensin conversion enzyme, tumoral necrosis factor-alpha (−308G/A and −238 G/A), interferon-gama (+874 A/T), and metalloproteinase-9 (−1562 C/T) genes by automatic sequencing. Fire weapon lesion was the major causa mortis (72%). Population mean age was 26 years, 100 male and 15 female; 35% were slims, 58% regular weight and 7% obese; 22% white, 51% non-white, and 17% blacks. Only 2 subjects had normal DA histology, while 17 presented level II lesions, 74 level III, 7 level IV, 14 level V. and 1 level VI. 49 individuals presented genotype DD, related to high serum levels of ECA, while 18 were II (related with low ECA levels) and 48 DI (allele frequencies of D = 0,635; I = 0,365). For TNF-α promoter polymorphisms (where allele A is associated with high TNF-α level), 59 presented genotype GG, 21 GA, and 8 AA at position -308 (G = 0,790; A = 0,210), while 84 were GG, 3 GA, and 2 AA at position -238 (G = 0,961; A = 0,039). The allele T at position +874 of INF-γ (related to high INF-γ levels) was present in 45 subjects, while for MMP-9 SNP 49 individuals presented genotype CC, 14 CT, and 3 TT (C = 0,848; T = 0,152). In conclusion, we observed a high prevalence of early atherosclerotic lesions (level III) in young adults, with high prevalence of DD genotype, associated with high ECA serum levels.

Prevalência de suicídio no Sul do Brasil, 2001-2005

OBJETIVO: Descrever e avaliar a incidência de suicídio em indivíduos procedentes da Associação dos Municípios da Região de Laguna (Amurel), no período de 2001 a 2005. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal com coleta de dados no Instituto Médico Legal (IML) de Tubarão, referentes a todos os óbitos ocorridos entre 2001 e 2005, que tiveram como causa de morte o suicídio. Para todos os casos inclusos no estudo, os dados foram retirados dos prontuários do IML por meio do preenchimento de uma ficha de dados. RESULTADOS: A idade média dos suicidas pesquisados ficou em 44 anos, com predomínio do sexo masculino (79,6%). A maioria dos casos não tinha união estável (38,8%) e utilizou com mais freqüência o enforcamento como método, com 68,4% dos óbitos. As profissões mais comuns entre os suicidas foram os serviços gerais e agricultores. A cidade com mais incidência foi Grão Pará com coeficiente de 20,2. CONCLUSÃO: Verificou-se que a incidência da região de Amurel está dentro das estatísticas catarinenses com coeficiente de 7,9. O principal método para cometer o suicídio foi o enforcamento, e os homens se matam quase quatro vezes mais que as mulheres.

O impacto do álcool na mortalidade em acidentes de trânsito: uma questão de saúde pública

O estudo objetivou relacionar a mortalidade em acidentes de trânsito, no período de dezembro de 2001 a fevereiro de 2002, na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, com a taxa de álcool apresentada no sangue. Foram levantados, no Instituto Médico Legal, 267 prontuários de vítimas fatais de trânsito. Evidenciou-se a mortalidade diretamente acentuada em pessoas em idade produtiva. Observou-se que, do total, 88 vítimas (32,9%), realizaram teste de alcoolemia, e desses 33% foram positivos (a partir de 0,6g/l no sangue) e 67% apresentaram alcoolemia negativa. Ao correlacionar alcoolemia positiva com o local de óbito, observou-se que 42,2% foram provenientes de via pública e 16,6% de hospital. Houve níveis significativos de alcoolemia em atropelamento, colisão e queda de moto. Evidenciou-se aumento de acidentes nos feriados e fins de semana. A pesquisa mostrou que 70,9% das vítimas apresentaram níveis de alcoolemia entre 1,0 e mais que 2,0g/l no sangue, caracterizando o abuso do álcool com os acidentes de trânsito.

Suicídio: aspectos epidemiológicos em Limeira e adjacências no período de 1998 a 2002

Para o presente estudo epidemiológico/documental foram selecionados os laudos de suicídios (n=153) no IML de Limeira (responsável por oito cidades da região), estado de São Paulo, Brasil, no período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2002. Os dados analisados foram os sociodemográficos: idade, sexo, estado civil, localidade (urbano/rural), além dos dados referentes aos métodos utilizados para a execução dos suicídios. Pode-se averiguar que os suicídios responderam por 6,2% de todas as mortes no período citado, sendo mais prevalente em homens (82,0%) e no meio urbano (88,9%). A faixa etária mais atingida foi a de 21 a 40 anos para ambos os sexos, respondendo por 49,4% de toda a amostra e os métodos mais utilizados para os homens foram: enforcamento (56,0%) e arma de fogo (24,0%), e para as mulheres enforcamento (39,3%) e intoxicação/veneno (21,4%). A média geral de suicídios foi de 4,88/100.000 habitantes nas oito cidades pesquisadas no período. Os resultados são discutidos comparando-se os dados atuais com pesquisas epidemiológicas realizadas no Brasil.