Clinical and epidemiological profile of adolescent and young victims of firearm wounds

ABSTRACT Objective Identify the clinical and epidemiological profile of adolescents and young victims of firearms wounds admitted in a leading trauma hospital in North and Northeast of Brazil. Methods Quantitative and descriptive study, from June to December/2014, in Fortaleza-CE. The sample consisted of 231 participants, 12 to 24 years old. Date collection was carried out by interview with participant. We adopted significance level of 5% (p <0.05). Results The mean age was 19.96 years old, with most coming from outlying neighborhoods (50.4%), five to eight residents in the family (54.1%), male (93.5%), mixed race (57.6%), incomplete 1st degree (52.8%), illicit drug users (65.31%), low income (39.4%), unemployed (41.1%), directly involved in the violent act (69%), disagreements as a cause of injury (25.9%). Hospital stay 16 to 30 days (42.9%) and limbs as most affected body structures (58.7%). Conclusion This study allowed the analysis of risk factors of violence by firearms and its impact on society favoring the development of preventive measures.