Injuries caused by firearms treated at Brazilian urgent and emergency healthcare services

• Published in: Ciência & saude coletiva Vol. 22; no. 9
• Main Authors: Adalgisa Peixoto Ribeiro, Edinilsa Ramos deSouza, Moreira deSousa, Carlos Augusto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Published: Rio de Janeiro Associação Brasileira de Saúde Coletiva 01.09.2017
• Subjects: Accidents; Adults; Emergency medical care; Emergency medical services; Emergency vehicles; Firearms; Health care; Health services; Injuries; Legs; Low level; Organs; Patients; Small arms; Brazil
• ISSN: 1413-8123; 1678-4561
• DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232017229.16492017

This paper analyzes the medical care given at Brazilian urgent and emergency healthcare services to people injured by firearms in 2014. A cross-sectional study was carried out on care given to patients with firearms injuries in 24 capital cities of Brazilian states and in the Brazilian Federal District, included in the VIVA Survey. Simple and relative frequencies of the variables related to the patients and to the event were calculated, and a logistic model for complex samples was applied adopting care for firearms injuries patients as outcome. The results show the following percentages of care events as caused by firearms: 0.7% for the category ‘other accidents (other than transport-related accidents)’, 1.5% for self-inflicted injuries, 15.9% for injuries due to assault, and 65.1% of cases arising from legal intervention. The care given was predominantly to young male adults (age 20-39), of mixed race and with a low level of schooling. The most common injuries were: to arms and legs; and to multiple organs. The paper concludes by discussing the efforts to control firearms held by the public in Brazil, and how they can lead to severe and lethal outcomes in quarrels and interpersonal disputes.