Sérgio d'Avila

Characterization of victims of aggression and transportation accidents treated at the Forensic Medicine and Dentistry Institute - Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil - 2010

The objective of this cross-sectional census study was to characterize agression and land-based transport accidents in a city in the Northeast of Brazil. Data was analyzed from live victims who were treated at a forensic service (N = 2.379). In the descriptive analysis, the majority of events were represented by aggression (71.6%); which occurred on weekdays (65%), with 35.1% at night. Trauma occurred to the whole body (63.6%) and to soft tissue (74.2%). On the basis of multiple correspondence analysis, two dimensions were formed: the first dimension (internal reliability = 0.654) was formed by the cause of the event, the trauma and the age group and the second dimension (reliability = 0.514), by age group, occupation and civil status. Three groups with distinct profiles were formed for accidents and aggression: young women who suffered aggression, with trauma to the face and soft tissues during the evening and at weekends; adult men who suffered car accidents, in the morning and on work days; and retired elderly widowers, who were run over.

Adolescents' knowledge of oral health: a population-based study

Purpose: To evaluate the knowledge on oral health of 10-19 year-old adolescents from the city of Campina Grande, PB, in the Northeast region of Brazil. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a random sample of 679 adolescents attending public schools in Campina Grande, PB, Brazil. Data were collected using a semistructured questionnaire and analyzed with Chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests. Results: Most information received by the participants concerned dental diseases (81%, P=0.026), and the dentist (66%, P=0.475) was the most frequently cited source. Approximately half of the subjects brushed their teeth 3 to 4 times a day (50%, P=0.039). A total of 77% (P=0.037) had received information on how to brush their teeth and 46% (P=0.143) on what type of brush should be used; 51% (P<0.01) affirmed to use dental floss and 49% (P=0.201) had received information on how to use it. Most adolescents visited the dentist during the previous year (57%, P=0.312), and prevention was the most frequent reason (50%, P=0.115). Gender was significantly associated with some variables, especially those of behavioral nature.

Characteristics of Brazilian Offenders and Victims of Interpersonal Violence: An Exploratory Study

The aim of this study was to characterize the profile of Brazilian offenders and victims of interpersonal violence, following a medicolegal and forensic perspective. A cross-sectional and exploratory study was performed in a Center of Forensic Medicine and Dentistry. The sample was made up of 1,704 victims of nonlethal interpersonal violence with some type of trauma. The victims were subject to forensic examinations by a criminal investigative team that identified and recorded the extent of the injuries. For data collection, a specific form was designed consisting of four parts according to the information provided in the medicolegal and social records: sociodemographic data of the victims, offender’s characteristics, aggression characteristics, and types of injuries. Descriptive and multivariate statistics using cluster analysis (CA) were performed. The two-step cluster method was used to characterize the profile of the victims and offenders. Most of the events occurred during the nighttime (50.9%) and on weekdays (66.3%). Soft tissue injuries were the most prevalent type (94.6%). Based on the CA results, two clusters for the victims and two for the offenders were identified. Victims: Cluster 1 was formed typically by women, aged 30 to 59 years, and married; Cluster 2 was composed of men, aged 20 to 29 years, and unmarried. Offenders: Cluster 1 was characterized by men, who perpetrated violence in a community environment. Cluster 2 was formed by men, who perpetrated violence in the familiar environment. These findings revealed different risk groups with distinct characteristics for both victims and offenders, allowing the planning of targeted measures of care, prevention, and health promotion. This study assesses the profile of violence through morbidity data and significantly contributes to building an integrated system of health surveillance in Brazil, as well as linking police stations, forensic services, and emergency hospitals.

Intimate partner violence against women, circumstances of aggressions and oral-maxillofacial traumas: A medical-legal and forensic approach

INTRODUCTION Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem that frequently results in oral-maxillofacial traumas, generating high social and economic costs. The aim of this study was to describe the profile of women victims of IPV and determine the pattern of oral-maxillofacial traumas, according to a medical-legal and forensic perspective. An exploratory study of 1361 suspected cases of women victims of IPV was carried out based on database of an Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Dentistry of Northeastern Brazil during a period of 4 years. Medico-legal and social records of victims were searched for information related to sociodemographic data, circumstances of aggressions and trauma patterns. Descriptive and multivariate statistics and Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) were performed. MAIN RESULTS Almost half of victims exhibited some oral-maxillofacial trauma resulting from IPV (45.8%). Lesions affecting more than one third of the face (41.3%), especially in soft tissues (96.1%) were the most common. Based on the MCA results, two distinct victimization profiles (P1 and P2) have been identified. P1 was mainly characterized by women aged less than 28 years, living in the urban area, with higher education and working. They were assaulted using physical force in community settings perpetrated by former partner or ex-boyfriend during the night and weekends, resulting in oral-maxillofacial traumas. P2 was mainly composed of women aged over 28 years, living in the suburban or rural areas, with low schooling and who did not work. They were assaulted by firearm or weapon in their own home, perpetrated by their partner or boyfriend during the day and weekdays, resulting in trauma to other body parts. CONCLUSIONS Oral and maxillofacial traumas are very common among women victims of IPV who searched for medical-legal service. In this context, forensic dentists can play a key role during the diagnostic process and should always work together with medical, biochemical and toxicological experts. The findings of this study may contribute to the formulation of evidence-based policies.

Ground transportation accidents involving two categories of motorcyclists who transport passengers

Objective: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to analyze the occurrence of ground transportation accidents involving two categories of motorcyclists who transport passengers in a city located in northeastern Brazil: those who work for city hall and those who work for a private transportation firm. Methods: Interviews were held with the aid of a questionnaire administered to a probabilistic sample of 210 individuals (125 from city hall and 85 from the private firm). Results: A high number of motorcyclists in both categories combined (78.6%) suffered traffic accidents in the 12 months prior to the inquiry. Collisions with automobiles constituted the most frequent type of accident (43.6%). Accidents were more associated with motorcyclists working for city hall (p < 0.05), due mainly to the fact that these individuals had been employed for a longer period of time (p < 0.001). The occurrence of bodily injuries was high in both categories (63.6%). Facial injuries were the least frequent in both categories due mainly to the use of protection equipment (98.2%). Conclusion: The occurrence of traffic accidents was high in the two motorcycle passenger transportation categories analyzed, demonstrating that motorcycles are used to transport passengers in a risky manner.

Seleção de pacientes por dentistas em situação de escassos recursos sanitários

To identify which criteria influenced the selection of patients by dentists in a city of Northeastern Brazil. A cross-sectional study was carried out by collecting data through a questionnaire, consisting of identification data and a case scenario, 308 respondents had to choose, by looking at photos of six supposed patients, the only one who should receive emergency dental treatment in a situation of scarce health resources. The absolute and percent frequencies were obtained for data analysis (descriptive statistical techniques). For the selection of the six patients, the most frequently chosen patient was the 50 year old white male (70.5%) followed by the female of African descent (12%). The dentist’s gender did not have a statistically significant effect on the choice of the patient (P=0.3366). Age was the most relevant criterion for the choice (46.4%) followed by the patient’s physiognomy (30.8%). There was no significant difference between age and choice of the patient (P=0.8133). However, there was a significant association between age and reason of choice (P=0.0258). Subjective criteria interfered in the choice: the first impression caused by different physical features.