FIREARM HOMICIDES IN BRAZIL: ANALYSIS FROM 2000 TO 2013

The aim of this study was to describe the data on firearm deaths in situations of violence in Brazil. Data collection and analysis are important in the formulation of public policies to combat the problem of firearm homicides. Methods: A descriptive ecological study was carried out using secondary data concerning firearm homicides in Brazil, based on the Mortality Information System - SIM, referring to the years 2000 to 2013. The analyzes were carried out for Brazil, by Brazilian regions stratified by sex and age in the years 2000 to 2013. Results: Data analysis of the period revealed an increase in the rates of firearms homicides in Brazil. The southeastern region is the only macro-region in which rates are declining, in contrast to the other regions with a considerable increase in homicide numbers. In males, death rates in all age groups were observed, being higher among adolescents. In women, rates can be seen in most age groups, with a fall pattern in 2007 and a return to growth behavior in the following years.