Temporal trend in adolescent mortality from aggression in Brazil, 2000 to 2017

Abstract

Background Mortality from aggression in adolescents reflects one of the symptoms of the Brazilian social situation, which makes this population group vulnerable, exposing them to situations that determine their death in an early and violent way. This work contributes to the analysis of the temporal trend of adolescent mortality due to aggression throughout Brazil from 2000 to 2017. Methods A ecological design time series was carried out on the mortality rate of adolescents due to aggression in Brazil, from 2000 to 2017. Data from the Mortality Information System (SIM) of the Ministry of Health of Brazil was used. Mortality rates were analyzed according to sex and age groups (10-14 and 15-19 years). The joinpoint regression method was used to calculate the annual trend in mortality rates. Results The mortality rate among female adolescents aged 10 to 14 years decreased from 1.81 to 1.74 deaths/100 thousand inhab., and in the group aged 15 to 19, increased from 6.64 to 7.87 deaths/100.000 inhab., from 2000 to 2017. The Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) of the rates showed a steady trend of mortality in the groups from 10 to 14 years (AAPC = -0.4; 95% CI -1.4-0.7) and 15 to 19 years (AAPC = 0.7; 95% CI -2.3-3.9). In males, the rate for the 10 to 14-year-old group increased from 4.56 to 6.64 deaths/100.000 inhab., and in the 15 to 19 year old group, increased from 73.06 to 122.78 deaths/100.000 inhab., from 2000 to 2017. The AAPC showed an upward trend in the groups between 10 and 14 years old (AAPC = 2.3; 95% CI % 0.2-4.4) and 15 to 19 years (AAPC = 2.8; 95% CI 2.1-3.5). In the 15 to 19-year-old group, the upward trend of the period between 2009 and 2017 stood out [Annual Percentage Change (APC) = 5.1; 95% CI 4.0-6.3)]. Conclusions This analysis can contribute with subsidies for the improvement of public policies and intersectoral actions that act on the vulnerabilities to which adolescents are exposed and that reduce the mortality rates due to aggressions. Key messages Mortality from aggression in adolescents aged 15-19 showed, in the female sex, an increase from 6.64 to 7.87 deaths/100.000 inhab., and in males, an increase from 73.06 to 122.78 deaths/100.000 inhab. The upward trend in the mortality rate in male adolescents aged 15 to 19 was highlighted in the period from 2009 to 2017 [Annual Percentage Variation (APC) = 5.1; 95% CI 4.0–6.3).