Epidemiological aspects of accidental tetanus infection in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil: 2001-2006

Abstract

Tetanus is a non-contagious infectious disease caused by the Clostridium tetany. Even though it is an easily controlled immunizable disease, it remains an important public health problem. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study whose intention was to determine the epidemiological profile of confirmed cases of accidental tetanus infection, and to identify the variables that might be associated with its incidence, mortality and lethality in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte between 2001 and 2006. The sample was formed by data related to 31 disease cases provided by the State Health Department of Minas Gerais via the Notifiable Diseases Information System. The cases came from 23.0% of the municipalities that comprise the region. The state capital of Belo Horizonte was responsible for 38.7% of the cases. The majority of them occurred in the year 2004 (0.21 cases/100,000 inhabitants), with an average rate during that period of 0.11 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The incidence among males was 2.88 times higher than females. Regarding age distribution, there were no cases of accidental tetanus among individuals under 20 years of age and the age group with the highest incidence was the over-65s (0.41/100,000 inhabitants). Rural areas had the most cases (0.20 cases/100,000 inhabitants). 22.6% of the cases were originated at home and at work with a 35.5% lethality rate. This research highlights the importance of prophylactic immunization actions against tetanus within primary healthcare system, in order to prevent and control its incidence.