Citation

Pordeus AM, Fraga MNO, Faco TP. Cad. Saude Publica 2003; 19(4): 1201-1204.

Vernacular Title

Acoes de prevencao dos acidentes e violencias em criancas e adolescentes,

Affiliation

Nucleo de Pesquisa, Centro de Ciencias da Saude, Universidade de Fortaleza, Fortaleza, CE, 60811-341, Brasil. augediva@unifor.br

Copyright

(Copyright © 2003, Escola Nacional De Saude Publica)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

12973584

Abstract

This article deals with measures developed by the public health system to prevent accidents and violence in children in Fortaleza, Ceara State, Brazil. The program resulted from the need perceived by the authors in light of statistics on mortality from external causes in childhood and adolescence and the fact that there was apparently no preventive action being taken by the public health system. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey of health administrators in the six Regional Executive Secretariats (SERs) corresponding to the geographic districts in which the health system is divided in Fortaleza. According to the survey, existing preventive measures are limited in time and space, and there is no overall policy in this direction; the current measures are organized as health education campaigns focused on prevention of alcohol and drug abuse, violence, household accidents, and juvenile delinquency. SER-I was the only health district that had established partnerships with other sectors in developing such activities. We conclude that the public health system's agenda in Fortaleza needs to incorporate the prevention of childhood and adolescent accidents and violence, taking an inter-sectoral approach and joining efforts in order for the knowledge accumulated on such health problems to be transformed into effective action.