The impact of mortality from external causes on life expectancy in the oil-producing municipalities in the Campos Basin/RJ

Abstract

The growth of mortality due to external causes in Brazil has become a concern among researchers and public policy makers in recent years. In the municipalities that produce oil in the Campos Basin, although much is known about migration patterns in this region, considered a relevant aspect of Brazilian urbanization, information on other components of demographic dynamics is still scarce. This study expands the discussion on health disparities in the region by investigating the impact of mortality due to external causes on life expectancy of the population between 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Using death data and population estimates, we constructed multiple decrement tables to assess the gain in life expectancy if mortality due to external causes were excluded from the risk of death and how these gains differ between men and women. We also evaluated different scenarios reducing mortality due to homicides and traffic accidents, the two main causes of death in the external causes group. The results reveal substantial average gains in life expectancy for both sexes, especially for men. The simulations performed showed that reducing mortality due to traffic accidents and homicides can bring important gains to the population, highlighting the importance of investing in public policies that combat external causes of mortality in a region marked by social and economic inequalities.

Keywords:
Mortality; External causes; Population arrangements; Multiple decrement life tables; Rio de Janeiro