The objective of this study was to characterize hospital morbidity in the Cubatão County, SP (Brazil), and compare this morbidity rate to that of the State of S. Paulo as a whole in order to identify the principal pathologies and provide information for the county's health services. The characterization of hospital morbidity was based on the analysis of data collected between July/1983 and June/1984. The main causes of admission in the three hospitals in Cubatão County were: complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium (23.63%); diseases of the respiratory system (22.8%); endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders (10.47%); diseases of the circulatory system (10.26%); injuries and poisoning (7.63%); diseases of the genitourinary system (7.56%); diseases of the digestive system (7.16%). Comparing hospital morbidity in Cubatão that of the State of S. Paulo as a whole a higher frequency rate was observed of diseases of the respiratory system, endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases and immunity disorders (basicaly dehydration), and injuries and poisoning. This might be a reflection of the bad environmental and sanitary conditions and poor basic sanitation, the low socioeconomic level of the population and the high industrialization of the county. The low incidence of neoplasms, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue anomalies may be related to the precarious health services of the county which encourage the population to seek assistance elsewhere.
Hospitals, general; Morbidity; Health services research; Socioeconomic factors