This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of accidents and violence against children under 15 years old who lived in Londrina, a city in the South of Brazil, in 2001. Morbidity data were collected from general hospitals records and mortality data were obtained from the Municipal Mortality Information Center. A total of 8,854 children were studied, which corresponded to an incidence rate of 74.8/1,000 children. Admission and fatality rates were 4.2% and 0.2%, respectively. The incidence rate was higher among two-year olds (109/1,000) and male victims prevailed (60.7%). Other causes of injuries were the main subtype of external cause (61.0%), followed by events of undetermined intention (30.6%) and by transport-related injuries (7.5%). The head was the most affected body part (34.9%) and superficial injuries were the most frequent kind of trauma (32.4%). The results contribute to the planning of injury control and prevention actions.
child; accidents; violence; accident prevention
