EPIDEMIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF MEDICINE INTOXICATIONS IN THE STATE OF PARAÍBA: AN ANALYSIS OF REPORTED CASES IN THE PERIOD 2018 TO 2022

Abstract

Medicines, when administered inadequately, are the main causes of intoxication, being considered a serious public health problem. Therefore, this study aims to draw an epidemiological profile of drug poisonings in the state of Paraíba in the period from 2018 to 2022. This is a descriptive, exploratory, population-based, qualitative and quantitative study of an observational nature, with information obtained from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System (DATASUS) from data recorded on the notification of drug intoxication in the database of the Notification Recording Information System (SINAN) in the State of Paraíba in the period 2018 to 2022. In the period studied 433,029 cases of drug intoxication were notified in the country, being the southeastern region of Brazil with the highest incidence (48.22%), followed by the South region with (22.04%) and the Northeast region (18.66%). The drug agent prevailed as the main cause of intoxication, regarding the State of Paraíba, 7. 433 cases, after filtering, 4,526 were registered, being evaluated the variables: sex, race/color, age group 20-79, education, and circumstance. The municipality with the highest rate was João Pessoa, the most prevalent poisonings were among young adults aged 20-39 years (69.93%), with females having the highest rate of intoxication (73.44%), identifying as predominant the race/color brown (72.51%), education with complete high school (14.23%) and suicide attempt as the main circumstance (63.32%). Therefore, public policy actions of health education are necessary, as well as the participation of health professionals in the notification of cases of intoxication as an essential tool for tracking the epidemiological profile, as well as measures to prevent and promote the rational use of medicines in order to reduce cases of intoxication.