[Adolescent mortality in the city of Rio de Janeiro from 1981 to 1995: how many deaths could be prevented?]

OBJECTIVE: This paper examines the main causes of mortality among adolescents ages 10 to 19 in the city of Rio de Janeiro with a focus on mortality prevention. METHODS: Mortality data from 1981 to 1995 were taken from the Mortality Information System of the Brazilian Ministry of Health. Age and sex specific mortality rates were calculated for the main causes of death covering three discrete time periods (1981-85, 1986-90 and 1991-95). RESULTS: Rates of homicides and fatal injuries by firearms have increased for adolescents of both sexes during the period studied. Among adolescent males the increase was from 46.5 /100,000 (between 1981 and 1985) to 105.8/100,000 (1991- 1995). Among adolescent females, mortality rates attributable to the same external causes presented a growth from 3.1/100,000 (1981-1985) to 7.8/ 100,000 (1991-1995). Geographic analysis indicates that the harbor area of the city and vicinities reflect higher indices of firearmsrelated deaths. For the same time period, non-external causes of death declined. Malignant neoplasias and pneumonia, the most frequent non-external causes of death, are decreasing. The rates of complications involving immune deficiencies have increased from nonexistent to 1.2 /100,000 during the last period (1991-1995) studied. CONCLUSION: The main causes of deaths among adolescents in the city of Rio de Janeiro are preventable. We propose that health professionals be attentive to this fact to prevent unnecessary deaths through health promotion.