Concepções teóricas sobre disparidades em saúde e morbidade por causas externas em Feira de Santana, Bahia

Abstract

One of the great challenges of Public Health today is to reduce health disparities generated by historical, socioeconomic, ideological and cultural determinants, which confer marked inequalities, between population groups, in morbidity and mortality, due to diseases and conditions, such as external causes. To understand the origin of health disparities and their relationship with the differentials of morbidity due to violence in the population, two studies were carried out: 1) a literature review study carried out in the USA, on theories / approaches, historical trauma, course of life, socioeconomic status and racism. It was observed that the different approaches used in studies in the area of public health pointed to the important contribution of historical, environmental, socioeconomic and ideological factors to the generation and maintenance of health disparities. 2) To analyze the violent morbidity in Feira de Santana (BA) according to the profile of the victims, aggressors and circumstances of the violent acts, a cross-sectional study was carried out with the universe of cases that presented bodily injuries and were attended by the Municipal Police Department , in the period from 2006 to 2008. In the analyzed period, 4158 cases of bodily injury were registered, with the profile of the victims marked by the greater victimization of men, young people between 20 and 29 years old and born in Feira de Santana. Aggressions were the main cause of injuries, being more frequent among women. Family conflicts were the main motivation. It can be observed that the morbidity due to external causes presents a differential between the population groups in Feira de Santana. It is considered that the results of this study, evidence the need for efforts to eliminate health disparities and build a less violent society.