Snakebite in Tocantins: ecological analysis of determinants and risk areas, 2007- 2015

Objective To investigate the epidemiological profile of snakebite accident cases, their determinants and risk areas in the state of Tocantins. Methods This was an ecological study using data from the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System, from 2007 to 2015. Multiple linear regression and the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used. Results A total of 7,764 snakebite accidents were reported (incidence: 62.1/100,000 inhab.; lethality: 0.5%). The variables associated with snakebite were population density (Coeff.=1.36, 95%CI 0.72;1.99), farming work (Coeff.=0.02, 95%CI 0.01;0.03), municipal human development index (Coeff.=2.99 - 95%CI 0.60;5.38), area planted with cassava (Coeff.=8.49 - 95%CI 1.66;15.32), indigenous population (Coeff.=0,02 - 95%CI 0.00; 0.04), proportion of illiterate people (Coeff.=4.70 - 95%CI 0.61;8.79) and employed people (Coeff.=3.00 - 95%CI 0.93;5,06), which together accounted for 64.48% of the variation. The high-risk areas were Amor Perfect, Cantão, Cerrado Tocantins Araguaia and Mid-North Araguaia health regions. Conclusion Municipal socioeconomic and demographic aspects were associated with snakebites.