Morbidity and mortality due to road accidents among children under the age of 15 in the municipality of Londrina, Paraná state

Abstract

This is a descriptive study comprising a population of children under the age of 15, resident in Londrina, who suffered road transport accidents in 2001 and either were attended at first aid services, hospitalized within the municipality or died in consequence of the event. Morbidity data were obtained from the general hospitals in the city, and mortality data came from the Mortality Information Nucleus of the municipality of Londrina. Epi Info version 6.04d software was used for data analysis. During the year in question, 668 individuals under the age of 15 suffered road transport accidents. Most of the victims were male (68.7%) and cyclists (65.9%), followed by pedestrians (19.6%). Major risk incidence was at the age of 12 (coefficient of 7.5 per thousand children). Head-neck was the most affected body region (38.7%) and superficial trauma was the most frequent (47.3%). Hospitalization stood for 10.6% of total accidents, with a 1.2% death rate. Hospitalization rate was higher for car occupants (32.4%) and pedestrians (19.1%). Lethal rate was most expressive among pedestrians (3.8%). The results indicate that providing health indicators contribute to expand knowledge on the extent and characteristics of this phenomenon and thus improve the planning of preventive actions