Hospital morbidity and mortality due to transportation accidents in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil

Transportation accidents have become one of the main causes of death in Brazil in past years. The implementation of the new Brazilian Traffic Code was expected to reduce both the number of accidents and victims. This study aimed to identify the trend in hospital morbidity and mortality due to transportation accidents in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil, and to evaluate whether hospitalizations in the Unified Health System (SUS) facilities was a useful follow-up tool for traffic accidents. Mortality rates (1996 to 2002) and hospitalization rates (1998 to 2002) due to transportation accidents were calculated from two SUS information systems, the Mortality Information System (SIM) and the Hospital Information System (SIH-SUS). The study also used Authorizations for Hospitalization (AIH) databases presented by the municipality, per year of hospitalization and withou re-admissions, and those paid by the Ministry of Health, per year of competence and without re-admissions. The mortality rate decreased between 1997 and 2002. Both AIH hospitalization rates (presented and paid) fell between 1998 and 2000 and increased as of 2001. This fact shows problems regarding management of traffic violence in the city. The SIH-SUS is proposed as a source of complementary information on transportation accidents.

Accidents; Hospitalization; Legislation; Morbidity; Mortality; Information Systems; Land Transportation; Traffic