[The frequency, causes and mortality due to accidents in Latin America]

Children's accidents, or injuries, is a relevant health problem in Latin America (L.A.). There are big differences among the rates of mortality of different countries for each age group. Mortality caused by motor vehicles is outstanding but not always related to mortality by all the causes of accident. In a high number of L.A. countries rates of death by accidents from O to 14 years are higher than in U. S. A. The strategies and resources oriented to prevention have not relationship with their importance as cause of morbidity, mortality and disabling. Actions must be epidemiologically based in morbi-mortality for each country by causes, regions and the socio-economical status of the population.