Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

to describe the profile of victims with injuries caused by firearm projectiles and the cost of treatment at a referral hospital in Midwestern Brazil belonging to the Viva Sentinela Network.

METHODS:

a descriptive study with convenience samplie was conducted from January to March 2013; data sources were interviews, patients' medical records, and the hospital statistics department.

RESULTS:

the 150 victims who participated were predominantly male (94.7%), young (67.3%), and drug/alcohol users (80.0%); the main reason of these incidents was drug trafficking/drug debt (45.3%); average health care costs were R$1,291.93 per case.

CONCLUSION:

the majority of victims were young male users of alcohol/drugs, and involvement with trafficking was the most frequent reason for victimization; average health care costs for these patients were high.

Key words:
Violence; External Causes; Wounds, Gunshot; Health Care Costs; Epidemiology, Descriptive