An exploratory analysis of gross death rates due to external reasons was carried out in the area of the "Baixada Fluminense", and in the Rio de Janeiro city, covering the 1979 -1987 period. The main goal was to verify mortality trends in the area and period of time specified, in an attempt to investigate a premiss according to wich violence rates have been increasing. Results obtained have show that death rates presented tendency to a non-linear increase throughout this period. A decrease was observed from 1979 to 1983, followed by an increase, since 1984, on to a higher level.
Violence; Mortality; Cause of death