Análise epidemiológica das intoxicações exógenas no Estado do Pará: notificação da exposição de mulheres a agrotóxicos de 2007 a 2023

Abstract

The use of pesticides in Brazil has increased significantly in recent decades, leading to numerous instances of exogenous poisoning. This study aims to describe the epidemiology of these poisonings that occurred in females, utilizing data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (Sinan) in the State of Pará from 2007 to 2023. The study will be descriptive in nature, employing a mixed qualitative and quantitative approach, using secondary data from the Sinan database. Four inclusion criteria were used: (1) the period from 2007 to 2023, (2) toxic agents: agricultural, domestic, public health, veterinary, and rodenticide pesticides, (3) final classification as poisoning, and (4) female gender. A total of 911 notifications met these criteria. Using the Sinan exogenous poisoning report, two groups were selected with sociodemographic and exposure information, and within these groups, 13 variables were considered. These notifications were analyzed through descriptive statistics using graphs and tables. The results indicated that most of the poisonings occurred in women aged 20 to 34 years (27,76%), and the majority (80%) were residents of urban areas. Additionally, significant underreporting was observed among the elderly and minors. The analysis also revealed that rodenticides were the most reported toxic agents, accounting for 38% of the cases. Agricultural pesticides (22.61%) and domestic-use pesticides (13.61%) also stood out as frequent causes of poisoning. Moreover, 31.61% of the cases involved women whose pregnancy status was either not applicable or ignored, highlighting gaps in data collection regarding pregnant women. Regarding employment status, 11.42% of the poisonings occurred among unemployed women, suggesting the possibility of exposure in domestic or informal settings. Another significant finding is that 27.11% of the cases had unreported educational levels, which may hinder a more detailed analysis of the relationship between educational attainment and exposure. In conclusion, the evaluated data reveal concerning patterns, particularly among young women residing in urban areas, with low educational attainment, and frequent use of rodenticides. The high rate of poisoning through ingestion of these products, often linked to suicide attempts, points to the urgent need for interventions in mental health care and stricter control of pesticide use, especially in domestic environments.