Association between firearms and mortality in Brazil, 1990 to 2017: a global burden of disease Brazil study

Abstract

Background Brazil leads the world in number of firearm deaths and ranks sixth by country in rate of firearm deaths per 100,000 people. This study aims to analyze trends in and burden of mortality by firearms, according to age and sex, for Brazil, and the association between these deaths and indicators of possession and carrying of weapons using data from the global burden of diseases, injuries, and risk factors study (GBD) 2017. Methods We used GBD 2017 estimates of mortality due to physical violence and self-harm from firearms for Brazil to analyze the association between deaths by firearms and explanatory variables. Results Deaths from firearms increased in Brazil from 25,819 in 1990 to 48,493 in 2017. Firearm mortality rates were higher among men and in the 20–24 age group; the rate was 20 times higher than for women in the same age group. Homicide rates increased during the study period, while mortality rates for suicides and accidental deaths decreased. The group of Brazilian federation units with the highest firearm collection rate (median = 7.5) showed reductions in the rate of total violent deaths by firearms. In contrast, the group with the lowest firearm collection rate (median = 2.0) showed an increase in firearm deaths from 2000 to 2017. An increase in the rate of voluntary return of firearms was associated with a reduction in mortality rates of unintentional firearm deaths (r = −0.364, p < 0.001). An increase in socio-demographic index (SDI) was associated with a reduction in all firearm death rates (r = −0.266, p = 0.008). An increase in the composite index of firearms seized or collected was associated with a reduction in rates of deaths by firearm in the subgroup of females, children, and the elderly (r = −0.269, p = 0.005). Conclusions There was a change in the trend of firearms deaths after the beginning of the collection of weapons in 2004. Federation units that collected more guns have reduced rates of violent firearm deaths.

Trends in method-specific suicide in Brazil from 2000 to 2017

“…Likewise, Pará, Maranhão, and Bahia had the largest increases in firearm prevalence and were also among the few states that showed increased firearm-specific suicide rates [ 25 ]. In line with these findings, a study using data from the Global Burden of Disease study showed that rates of firearm-related deaths are associated with the numbers of firearms voluntarily returned following implementation of the Disarmament Statute; while rates of firearm-related deaths tended to increase between 2000 and 2017 in states with low numbers returned, states with the highest numbers of firearms returned showed reductions in the rates of firearm-related deaths [ 6 ].…”

“…The total rate of death by firearms in Brazil is among the highest in the world, accounting for 21.5 deaths per 100,000 Brazilians in 2017 [ 6 ]. Ready access to firearms, whether legal or illegal, arguably facilitates deaths by firearms, including suicide.…”

The COVID-19 Pandemic Exposes Another Commercial Determinant of Health: The Global Firearm Industry

“…Increases in Brazil's domestically produced weapons have correlated with increases in firearm violence. 6,7 Despite these trends, the firearm industry in Brazil argues that the increase in violence is due to "imported" small arms to influence policy decisions and continues with their local production. 7 As the United States is also a large importer of weapons from Brazil, their extensive supply chains ensure that production and profits in Brazil remain high.…”

Perfil geográfico, temporal, epidemiológico e toxicológico das vítimas idosas de suicídio no Rio Grande do Sul, Brasil, entre 2017 e 2019

“…Introdução O suicídio de idosos, pessoas com 60 anos ou mais, é considerado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde como um dos mais graves problemas de saúde pública, pois o risco aumenta com a idade [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] e essa é a população em maior crescimento [7].…”

“…No Brasil, o aumento da longevidade tem modificado a estrutura demográfica de forma distinta em cada região; com o registro dos maiores índices de envelhecimento no estado do Rio Grande do Sul (RS) [3,6,10,11] e, dentre as capitais, em Porto Alegre [12][13].…”