The characteristics and factors of emergency service visits for falls

Authors

  • Deborah Carvalho Malta Ministério da Saúde; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde; Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde
  • Marta Maria Alves da Silva Ministério da Saúde; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde; Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde
  • Márcio Dênis Medeiros Mascarenhas Universidade Federal do Piauí; Hospital Universitário
  • Naíza Nayla Bandeira de Sá Ministério da Saúde; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde; Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde
  • Otaliba Libânio de Morais Neto Ministério da Saúde; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde; Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde
  • Regina Tomie Ivata Bernal Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Saúde Pública
  • Rosane Aparecida Monteiro Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto; Departamento de Medicina Social
  • Silvânia Suely Caribé de Araújo Andrade Ministério da Saúde; Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde; Departamento de Análise de Situação de Saúde
  • Vilma Pinheiro Gawryszewski Pan American Health Organization

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102012000100016

Keywords:

External Causes, Accidental Falls, Emergency Medical Services, Risk Factors, Cross-Sectional Studies

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of visits to the emergency services that result from falls and to identify the factors associated with these visits. METHOD: A cross-sectional study of 12,617 visits that resulted from falls, recorded in the National Injury Surveillance System, was carried out. The data were collected in 23 Brazilian capitals and the Federal District between September and November 2009 using cluster sampling. Correspondence analysis was used, which allowed for the joint observation of a large number of qualitative variables. RESULTS: Most of the victims were male (56.5%), aged 0 to 19 years (45.7%), and identified as non-white skin color (62.2%). The majority of the falls occurred at home (54.6%) and in the street (17.4%); 14.3% were work-related. The predominant types were "falls on the same level" (57.0%) and "falls from a ladder/step" (15.6%). Most of the injuries were classified as sprains, dislocations, bruises, cuts, or lacerations (68.3%). Falls among children occurred mostly at home; among adolescents at school; and among young people at sports facilities. Falls among adults were associated with the work place, including falls from scaffolding, roofs, stairs/steps, and holes and were linked to alcohol use. Falls on the same level resulted in less serious injuries, mostly on the upper and lower limbs, and falls from scaffolding and roofs were associated with more severe injuries and hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that strategies to prevent falls should target residences, schools, and work environments.

Published

2012-02-01

Issue

Section

Original Articles

How to Cite

Malta, D. C., Silva, M. M. A. da, Mascarenhas, M. D. M., Sá, N. N. B. de, Morais Neto, O. L. de, Bernal, R. T. I., Monteiro, R. A., Andrade, S. S. C. de A., & Gawryszewski, V. P. (2012). The characteristics and factors of emergency service visits for falls . Revista De Saúde Pública, 46(1), 128-137. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-89102012000100016