Prevalence and characteristics of self-inflicted exogenous violence and intoxication: a study from a database on notifications

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To describe the self-inflicted cases of violence and acute exogenous intoxication occurred in the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) between 2013 and 2017.

Methods:

Cross-sectional study including all cases reported in the Notifiable Diseases System between 2013 and 2017, selected through the forms of interpersonal/self-infliged, through the variable caused injury, and through the investigation of exogenous intoxication, due to the variable circumstances of exposure/contamination. The analysis included descriptive statistics, calculation of prevalences per 100.000 and stratification by sex according to sociodemographic and clinical characteristics.

Results:

In the proposed period, 18.544 cases of violence and 5.624 cases of exogenous intoxication self-infliged were reported, with a predominance of women (67% and 75,3%), between 30 and 59 years old (46,4% and 49%), white (86% and 86%), with complete/incomplete elementary education (58,3% and 47,3%), living in urban/periurban areas (89,2% and 89,6%) and with episodes occurring at their own residence (88,8% and 96,6%). About the methods of violence used, poisonings/intoxications (39,7%), hangings (13,8%), sharp objects (13,6%) and firearms (2%) stood out. There was a difference according to sex in the sociodemographic and clinical variables referring to both diseases, as well as an increase of 169% and 381,1% in prevalences of violence and intoxication, between 2013 and 2017.

Conclusions:

An expressive and growing number of cases in the state, with greater implications for females, important differences according to sex and most affected populations, encourages the need to implement specific preventive measures in vulnerable groups.

KEYWORDS
Information systems; disease notification; suicide attempted; violence; public health