In addition to impacting the lives of thousands of families, traffic accidents are a public health challenge. In the last two years, according to the State Department of Health, 6,060 young people aged 20 to 29 were hospitalized for traffic injuries in public hospitals or those served by the Unified Health System (SUS) and 1,119 died as a result of accidents in the Paraná. Hospital admissions for this age group cost approximately R$10.2 million in the period (2022 and 2023). The data for 2023 is still preliminary, as is that for 2024, with 104 young people already hospitalized.
The survey also extends to other age groups. According to the Hospital Information System (SIH), in 2022, 10,527 hospitalizations were recorded and, in 2023, 10,591. These numbers refer to the entire population, from newborns to people over 60 years old. Men have much more accidents than women: in 2023 there were 7,900 men and 2,500 women. Investment in these two years reached R$36 million, which would be enough to finance, for example, three new Specialty Medical Outpatient Clinics (AMEs).
Between 2022 and 2023 there were 34 hospitalizations of babies under one year old, 155 of children aged 1 to 4 years old and 363 of children aged 5 to 9 years old. Among adults, there were 3,994 hospitalizations for traffic injuries between 30 and 39 years old and 3,295 between 40 and 49 years old. There were also 2,218 hospitalizations of elderly people over 60 years of age.
Motorcycle accidents were the main causes of hospitalizations and deaths. There were 60,044 from 2010 to 2023, with data worsening over the years, with the record being precisely in 2023, with 5,927. Vehicle occupants have suffered 18,330 accidents involving hospitalization since 2010. In this case, however, there is a decreasing trend. In 2010 there were 1,602 and in 2023, 1,326. There were also 18,521 accidents with pedestrians and 9,351 with cyclists in the same period.
Regarding deaths, in 2022 alone there were 485 pedestrians, 148 cyclists, 785 motorcyclists, 947 occupants of cars and trucks and 113 drivers or passengers of heavy vehicles. Even with the high numbers, there has been a downward trend since 2012, when there was a peak of 3,624 deaths. The number reduced to 3,148 in 2013, 3,045 in 2014, 2,722 in 2015, 2,547 in 2017 and 2,427 in 2019. Soon after, deaths rose again and reached 2,721 in 2022.
According to the Secretary of Health, Beto Preto, the data helps to draw an overview of the impact of traffic violence on the Unified Health System, which covers healthcare costs, overload of services at specific times and premature mortality. In addition to the financial aspect, traffic accidents can cause disabilities, impacting the quality of life of the people involved.
“The data on hospitalizations in the SUS for traffic injuries are very worrying, but they are not yet an end point, because accidents result in countless other problems. Unfortunately, young people are the main victims. Surveillance and education must be permanent”, said the secretary. “We are one week away from Yellow May, awareness month to reduce accidents. Prevention and warning are still the best way to avoid these statistics.”
“Detran-PR is currently focusing its traffic education efforts on motorcyclists, who represent the main people involved in accidents and are especially vulnerable. Our focus is on education and awareness among traffic agents”, added the CEO of organ, Adriano Furtado.
PREVENTION – Detran-PR and other State bodies, with support from Sesa, work within the premises of Health Promotion and Prevention of Violence and Accidents in Paraná, based on the perspective of the Culture of Peace, which encompasses the guarantee of rights, strategies of non-violence, health promotion and respect for life and the environment. In terms of prevention, for 2024 the National Traffic Council established the message “Peace in traffic begins with you” as the theme for traffic educational campaigns.
The National Traffic Life Project (PVT), coordinated by the Ministry of Health together with the Pan American Health Organization and supported by national and international partners, is another initiative aimed at monitoring and preventing traffic injuries and deaths and promoting health, in response to the challenges of the United Nations (UN). The coordination of the State Commission is shared between Sesa and Detran-PR.
Fourteen municipalities have joined and are implementing the PVT: Araucária, Campo Mourão, Cascavel, Curitiba, Foz do Iguaçu, Francisco Beltrão, Londrina, Maringá, Paranaguá, Paranavaí, Ponta Grossa, São José dos Pinhais, Toledo and Umuarama. They need to set up intersectoral committees and appoint a data management and integration working group, which helps to map the local scenario.
According to Sesa’s Health Promotion Coordinator, Elaine Cristina Vieira de Oliveira, Paraná works to reduce morbidity and mortality due to violence and accidents, with goals agreed in the State Plan of Strategic Actions to Combat Chronic Diseases and Non-Communicable Diseases 2023 – 2030 of Paraná (Dant’s Plan). “We are working to reduce the mortality rate from traffic injuries in Paraná by 50% by 2030, foreseeing several actions within Paraná,” she stated.
