This paper reports on surgical rates as related to patient's ages sex and categories of hospitalization in the population of Ribeirão Preto, S. Paulo, Brazil. Data were obtained from a hospital information center. The surgical rate in Ribeirão Preto was similar to the highest rates reported in literature. Obstetric surgery accounted for 31.8% of all operations performed. Orthopedic operations were the most frequent kind of surgery performed on the male sex. Hospitalization with surgery was more frequent in the patients whose care was remunerated. The number of orthopedic and plastic surgical operations was greater in the case of Social Insurance and indigent patients, whereas otorrinological and urinary tract operations were more frequent in the case of paying patients.
Surgery; Hospitalization