Descriptive study of the profiles of victims of firearm projectile injuries and healthcare costs in a hospital in the Viva Sentinela Network

• Published in: Epidemiologia e serviços de saúde Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 607 - 616
• Main Authors: Maciel, Paulo Roberto, Souza, Marta Rovery de, Rosso, Claci Fátima Weirich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Brazil 01.07.2016
• ISSN: 2237-9622
• DOI: 10.5123/S1679-49742016000300016

to describe the profile of victims with injuries caused by firearm projectiles and the cost of treatment at a referral hospital in Midwestern Brazil belonging to the Viva Sentinela Network. a descriptive study with convenience samplie was conducted from January to March 2013; data sources were interviews, patients' medical records, and the hospital statistics department. the 150 victims who participated were predominantly male (94.7%), young (67.3%), and drug/alcohol users (80.0%); the main reason of these incidents was drug trafficking/drug debt (45.3%); average health care costs were R$1,291.93 per case. the majority of victims were young male users of alcohol/drugs, and involvement with trafficking was the most frequent reason for victimization; average health care costs for these patients were high.