Editorial challenges of the Revista de Saúde Pública.

The editors of the Revista de Saúde Pública describe the journal's editorial profile and discuss the challenges of scientific publication in the area. A historical overview of almost 50 years of the journal is reported, with the temporal projection of their bibliometric indicators. Qualitative and quantitative parameters of its editorial profile and indexes are also reported. Budget constraints and the actions being taken to address them are discussed. The difficulty in allocating reviewers for manuscripts submitted to the editorial process is also discussed; an issue that affects scientific publication in many areas of knowledge. In particular, we sought to reflect on the proposal of measures to boost the editorial process by alleviating the shortage of reviewers and their possible harmful consequences for the editorial process.

Desafios editoriais da Revista de Saúde Pública / Editorial challenges of the Revista de Saúde Pública

Resumo Os editores da Revista de Saúde Pública descrevem o perfil editorial da revista e discutem os desafios da publicação científica na área. É apresentada uma síntese histórica dos quase 50 anos da revista, com a projeção temporal de seus indicadores bibliométricos. São relacionados parâmetros qualitativos e quantitativos de seu perfil editorial e indexações. São discutidas as restrições orçamentárias e as ações que vêm sendo tomadas para enfrentá-las. Também se discute a dificuldade na alocação de revisores para os manuscritos submetidos ao processo de avaliação editorial; uma questão que afeta a publicação científica em muitas áreas de conhecimento. Em especial, buscou-se refletir sobre a proposição de medidas que visem dinamizar o processo editorial, atenuando a escassez de revisores e suas possíveis consequências prejudiciais para o processo editorial.

Abstract The editors of the Revista de Saúde Pública describe the journal's editorial profile and discuss the challenges of scientific publication in the area. A historical overview of almost 50 years of the journal is reported, with the temporal projection of their bibliometric indicators. Qualitative and quantitative parameters of its editorial profile and indexes are also reported. Budget constraints and the actions being taken to address them are discussed. The difficulty in allocating reviewers for manuscripts submitted to the editorial process is also discussed; an issue that affects scientific publication in many areas of knowledge. In particular, we sought to reflect on the proposal of measures to boost the editorial process by alleviating the shortage of reviewers and their possible harmful consequences for the editorial process.

Living conditions and access to health services by Bolivian immigrants in the city of São Paulo, Brazil.

Bolivian immigrants in Brazil experience serious social problems: precarious work conditions, lack of documents and insufficient access to health services. The study aimed to investigate inequalities in living conditions and access to health services among Bolivian immigrants living in the central area of São Paulo, Brazil, using a cross-sectional design and semi-structured interviews with 183 adults. According to the data, the immigrants tend to remain in Brazil, thus resulting in an aging process in the group. Per capita income increases the longer the immigrants stay in the country. The majority have secondary schooling. Work status does not vary according to time since arrival in Brazil. The immigrants work and live in garment sweatshops and speak their original languages. Social networks are based on ties with family and friends. Access to health services shows increasing inclusion in primary care. The authors conclude that the immigrants' social exclusion is decreasing due to greater access to documentation, work (although precarious), and the supply of health services from the public primary care system.

Living conditions and access to health services by Bolivian immigrants in the city of São Paulo, Brazil / Condições de vida e acesso a serviços de saúde de imigrantes bolivianos no centro da cidade de São Paulo, Brasil / Condiciones de vida y acceso a servicios de salud por los inmigrantes bolivianos en el centro de la ciudad de São Paulo, Brasil

Bolivian immigrants in Brazil experience serious social problems: precarious work conditions, lack of documents and insufficient access to health services. The study aimed to investigate inequalities in living conditions and access to health services among Bolivian immigrants living in the central area of São Paulo, Brazil, using a cross-sectional design and semi-structured interviews with 183 adults. According to the data, the immigrants tend to remain in Brazil, thus resulting in an aging process in the group. Per capita income increases the longer the immigrants stay in the country. The majority have secondary schooling. Work status does not vary according to time since arrival in Brazil. The immigrants work and live in garment sweatshops and speak their original languages. Social networks are based on ties with family and friends. Access to health services shows increasing inclusion in primary care. The authors conclude that the immigrants' social exclusion is decreasing due to greater access to documentation, work (although precarious), and the supply of health services from the public primary care system.

Os bolivianos no Brasil têm problemas sociais evidentes: inserção precária no trabalho, falta de documentos e necessidades em saúde. O estudo teve por objetivo conhecer as desigualdades geradas pelas condições de vida e de acesso aos serviços de saúde entre os imigrantes bolivianos na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Foi feito um estudo transversal com 183 adultos, subdivididos pelo tempo de residência no país, com aplicação de questionário semiestruturado. Os dados evidenciaram a permanência e o envelhecimento desses imigrantes. A renda per capita é ascendente conforme o tempo no país; na formação escolar predomina o nível médio; o tempo de permanência no Brasil não altera a situação de trabalho; trabalham e vivem nas confecções e falam suas línguas de origem. Predominam as redes sociais familiares e de amigos. O acesso aos serviços de saúde ocorre com progressiva inclusão em ações de atenção primária. Concluímos que há um processo de exclusão decrescente, que acontece pelo acesso à documentação, ao trabalho, ainda que precário, e pela oferta de serviços da rede pública de atenção primária em saúde.

Los bolivianos en Brasil tienen evidentes problemas sociales: inserción precaria en el trabajo, falta de documentos y necesidades de salud. El estudio tiene como objetivo identificar las desigualdades generadas por las condiciones de vida y el acceso a los servicios de salud entre los inmigrantes bolivianos en São Paulo, Brasil. Se realizó un estudio transversal con 183 adultos, dividido por el tiempo de residencia en el país, con la aplicación de un cuestionario semi-estructurado. Los datos mostraron la permanencia de estos inmigrantes y el envejecimiento. El ingreso per cápita aumenta con el tiempo que están en el país, la formación educacional domina la enseñanza secundaria, la duración del tiempo en el país no cambia la situación laboral, trabajan y viven en los talleres textiles y hablan sus lenguas nativas. Predominan las redes sociales de familiares y amigos. El acceso a los servicios de salud ocurre vía la inclusión progresiva en acciones de atención primaria. Llegamos a la conclusión de que existe un proceso de exclusión decreciente, derivado del acceso a la documentación, al trabajo, aunque precario, y la prestación de servicios en la atención primaria de la salud pública.

Diferenciais intraurbanos na distribuição de dengue em Cuiabá, 2007 e 2008 / Intra-urbandiferentials in dengue distribution, Cuiabá, 2007-2008

INTRODUÇÃO: Cuiabá apresenta inúmeros casos de dengue tanto nos períodos endêmicos quanto nas epidemias cíclicas. O objetivo do estudo foi analisar os diferenciais intra-urbanos da incidência em 2007 e 2008 relacionando-os com as condições socioeconômicas e socioambientais. MÉTODO: estudo de abordagem ecológica usando dados secundários. A caracterização das condições de vida foi feita com dados do Censo Demográfico (IBGE, 2000) e os dados epidemiológicos foram obtidos no Sistema Nacional de Agravos de Notificação (SINAN). O índice socioeconômico mediu escolaridade, renda dos responsáveis pelos domicílios permanentes e aglomeração domiciliar; o índice socioambiental usou informações relativas ao saneamento básico e à proporção de domicílios precários. Os índices foram elaborados a partir da classificação das variáveis em quintis e atribuição de pontos para cada quintil. A pontuação por bairro foi resultante da soma dos pontos para cada variável. Os bairros foram classificados em estratos de risco a partir da combinação de resultados dos dois índices. RESULTADOS: A incidência foi menor nos estratos de risco médio e baixo, e alta no estrato de risco muito alto; entretanto, foi maior do que a esperada no estrato de risco mínimo, indicando dissociação entre condições de vida e ocorrência da doença. CONCLUSÃO: Maiores incidências da dengue em Cuiabá nos anos de 2007 e 2008 foram observadas em locais com precárias condições de saneamento ambiental e habitados por populações com menor nível de renda e escolaridade, embora não exista correlação linear entre condições de vida e incidência.

INTRODUCTION: Cuiaba presents a huge number of cases of dengue in the endemic periods as well as in the cyclical epidemics. The aim of the study was to analyze the intra-urban differentials of the incidence in 2007 and 2008 relating them with socio-economical and environmental life conditions. METHOD: study of ecological approach using secondary data. The characterization of the life conditions was gotten from the Demographic Census (IBGE, 2000) and the epidemiologic data from the Surveillance National System (SINAN). The socio-economical index was based on school level and income of the head of family and overcrowding; the socioambiental index used information about sanitation and proportion of precarious domiciles. The variables were classified in quintis and points were attributed for each one. The score for neighborhood was resultant of the addition of the points for each variable. The neighborhoods had been classified in stratus of risk from the combination of results of the two indexes. RESULTS: The incidence was lesser in stratus of average and low risk and very high in the stratum of the highest risk but was bigger then expected in the stratum classified at minimum risk indicating dissociation between life conditions and occurrence of the illness. CONCLUSION: Higher incidences of the dengue fever in Cuiaba in 2007 and 2008 have been observed in places with precarious conditions of sanitation and inhabited by populations with lesser level of income and education level but there is no linear correlation between life conditions and incidence.

Methodology for definition of yellow fever priority areas, based on environmental variables and multiple correspondence analyses.

Yellow fever (YF) is endemic in much of Brazil, where cases of the disease are reported every year. Since 2008, outbreaks of the disease have occurred in regions of the country where no reports had been registered for decades, which has obligated public health authorities to redefine risk areas for the disease. The aim of the present study was to propose a methodology of environmental risk analysis for defining priority municipalities for YF vaccination, using as example, the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The municipalities were divided into two groups (affected and unaffected by YF) and compared based on environmental parameters related to the disease's eco-epidemiology. Bivariate analysis was used to identify statistically significant associations between the variables and virus circulation. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used to evaluate the relationship among the variables and their contribution to the dynamics of YF in Sao Paulo. The MCA generated a factor that was able to differentiate between affected and unaffected municipalities and was used to determine risk levels. This methodology can be replicated in other regions, standardized, and adapted to each context.

Intra-urbandiferentials in dengue distribution, Cuiabá, 2007-2008.

INTRODUCTION: Cuiaba presents a huge number of cases of dengue in the endemic periods as well as in the cyclical epidemics. The aim of the study was to analyze the intra-urban differentials of the incidence in 2007 and 2008 relating them with socio-economical and environmental life conditions. METHOD: study of ecological approach using secondary data. The characterization of the life conditions was gotten from the Demographic Census (IBGE, 2000) and the epidemiologic data from the Surveillance National System (SINAN). The socio-economical index was based on school level and income of the head of family and overcrowding; the socioambiental index used information about sanitation and proportion of precarious domiciles. The variables were classified in quintis and points were attributed for each one. The score for neighborhood was resultant of the addition of the points for each variable. The neighborhoods had been classified in stratus of risk from the combination of results of the two indexes. RESULTS: The incidence was lesser in stratus of average and low risk and very high in the stratum of the highest risk but was bigger then expected in the stratum classified at minimum risk indicating dissociation between life conditions and occurrence of the illness. CONCLUSION: Higher incidences of the dengue fever in Cuiaba in 2007 and 2008 have been observed in places with precarious conditions of sanitation and inhabited by populations with lesser level of income and education level but there is no linear correlation between life conditions and incidence.

Municipalities of higher vulnerability to Sylvatic Yellow Fever occurrence in the São Paulo State, Brazil.

Until 1999 the endemic cases of Sylvatic Yellow Fever were located in the states of northern, midwestern and pre-Amazon regions. Since then, the disease progressively expanded its territory of occurrence, cases being registered beyond the traditional boundaries of endemism. The São Paulo State is considered to be part of this context, since after decades without registration of autochthonous cases of the disease, it reported, in 2000 and 2008-2009, epizootic occurrence in non-human primates and 30 cases in humans. Facts like these, added to the increase in incidences of serious adverse effects resulting from the Yellow Fever vaccination, have highlighted the importance of defining priority municipalities for vaccination against the disease in the state. Two groups of municipalities, some affected and some non-affected by YF, were compared for environmental variables related to the eco-epidemiology of the disease according to literature. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was used to pinpoint the factor able to differentiate the two groups of municipalities and define the levels of risk. The southeast region of the São Paulo State was considered to be the area with a higher number of municipalities classified as high risk and should be considered a priority for the application of prevention measures against Yellow Fever.

Municipalities of higher vulnerability to Sylvatic Yellow Fever occurrence in the São Paulo State, Brazil / Municípios de alta vulnerabilidade à ocorrência da febre amarela silvestre no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Until 1999 the endemic cases of Sylvatic Yellow Fever were located in the states of northern, midwestern and pre-Amazon regions. Since then, the disease progressively expanded its territory of occurrence, cases being registered beyond the traditional boundaries of endemism. The São Paulo State is considered to be part of this context, since after decades without registration of autochthonous cases of the disease, it reported, in 2000 and 2008-2009, epizootic occurrence in non-human primates and 30 cases in humans. Facts like these, added to the increase in incidences of serious adverse effects resulting from the Yellow Fever vaccination, have highlighted the importance of defining priority municipalities for vaccination against the disease in the state. Two groups of municipalities, some affected and some non-affected by YF, were compared for environmental variables related to the eco-epidemiology of the disease according to literature. The Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) was used to pinpoint the factor able to differentiate the two groups of municipalities and define the levels of risk. The southeast region of the São Paulo State was considered to be the area with a higher number of municipalities classified as high risk and should be considered a priority for the application of prevention measures against Yellow Fever.

Até o ano de 1999, no Brasil, casos endêmicos de Febre Amarela Silvestre estavam localizados nos estados das regiões Norte, Centro-Oeste e pré-amazônica. Desde então, a doença vem progressivamente expandindo seu território de ocorrência, sendo registrados casos além das fronteiras tradicionais de endemismo. Neste contexto se insere o estado de São Paulo que, após décadas sem registro de casos autóctones da doença, reportou em 2000 e 2008-2009 epizootias em primatas não humanos e 30 casos humanos. Fatos como este, somados a crescente incidência de eventos adversos graves relacionados à vacinação contra Febre Amarela, demonstram a importância de serem definidos municípios prioritários para a vacinação contra a doença no estado. Assim, dois grupos de municípios, afetados e não-afetados pela Febre Amarela, foram comparados para variáveis ambientais relacionadas com a eco-epidemiologia da doença segundo a literatura. A Análise por Correspondência Múltipla foi utilizada para gerar um fator capaz de diferenciar os dois grupos de municípios e definir os níveis de risco. Após aplicação da metodologia para os municípios atualmente localizados fora da área de recomendação de vacinação contra Febre Amarela, a região sudeste do estado foi considerada prioritária para aplicação de medidas preventivas contra a doença.

Legal suits: pharmaceutical industry strategies to introduce new drugs in the Brazilian public healthcare system.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the distribution rate of legal suits according to drug (manufacturer), prescribing physician, and attorney filing the lawsuit. METHODS: A descriptive study was carried out to assess the lawsuits in the São Paulo State (Southeastern Brazil) courts registry in 2006, and amounts spent in complying with these lawsuits, and total costs with medication thus resulting. RESULTS: In 2006, the São Paulo State Administration spent 65 million Brazilian reais in compliance with court decisions to provide medication to approximately 3,600 individuals. The total cost of the medication was 1.2 billion Brazilian reais. In the period studied, 2,927 lawsuits were examined. These lawsuits were filed by 565 legal professionals, among which 549 were attorneys engaged by private individuals (97.17% of the total legal professionals). The drugs scope of the lawsuits had been prescribed by 878 different physicians. By assessing the number of lawsuits filed per attorney, it was found that 35% of them were brought before the courts by 1% of them. CONCLUSIONS: The data related to the lawsuits and to the medication classified according to manufacturer, show that a small number of attorneys is responsible for the largest number of lawsuits filed to obtain these drugs. The finding that more than 70% of the lawsuits filed for certain drugs are the responsibility of one single attorney, may suggest a close connection between this professional and the manufacturer.

Ações judiciais: estratégia da indústria farmacêutica para introdução de novos medicamentos / Acciones judiciales: estrategia de la industria farmacéutica para introducción de nuevos medicamentos / Legal suits: pharmaceutical industry strategies to introduce new drugs in the Brazilian public healthcare system

OBJETIVO: Analisar a concentração na distribuição dos processos judiciais segundo medicamento (fabricante), médico prescritor e advogado impetrante da ação. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo que analisou processos judiciais cadastrados em sistema de controle judicial do Estado de São Paulo, em 2006, gastos realizados com o atendimento às ações judiciais e gastos totais de medicamentos. RESULTADOS: Em 2006, foram gastos 65 milhões de reais pelo estado de São Paulo com o cumprimento das decisões judiciais para atender a cerca de 3.600 pessoas. O gasto total em medicamentos foi de 1,2 bilhão de reais. No período estudado foram analisadas 2.927 ações, que foram ajuizadas por 565 agentes, dos quais 549 eram advogados particulares (97,2 por cento do total de agentes). Os medicamentos solicitados nas demandas judiciais analisadas foram prescritos por 878 médicos diferentes. Ao analisar o número de ações ajuizadas por advogado, observa-se que 35 por cento das ações foram apresentadas por 1 por cento dos advogados. CONCLUSÕES: Os dados das ações com os medicamentos classificados pelo seu fabricante mostram que poucos advogados são responsáveis pela maioria das demandas judiciais desses medicamentos. A observação de que mais de 70 por cento das ações ajuizadas para certos medicamentos são de responsabilidade de um advogado pode sugerir uma relação estreita entre o advogado e o fabricante do medicamento.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la concentración en la distribución de los procesos judiciales según medicamento (fabricante), medico prescriptor y abogado impetrante de la acción. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo que analizó procesos judiciales catastrados en sistema de control judicial del estado de Sao Paulo, sureste de Brasil, en 2006, gastos realizados con la atención de las acciones judiciales y gastos totales de medicamentos. RESULTADOS: En 2006, fueron gastados 65 millones de reales por el estado de Sao Paulo con el cumplimiento de las decisiones judiciales para atender cerca de 3.600 personas. El gasto total en medicamentos fue de 1,2 billones de reales. En el período estudiado fueron analizadas 2.927 acciones, estas fueron enjuiciadas por 565 agentes de los cuales 549 eran abogados particulares (97,2% del total de agentes). Los medicamentos solicitados en las demandas judiciales analizadas fueron prescriptos por 878 médicos diferentes. Al analizar el número de acciones enjuiciadas por abogado, se observa que 35% de las acciones fueron presentadas por 1% de los abogados. CONCLUSIONES: Los datos de las acciones con los medicamentos clasificados por su fabricante muestran que pocos abogados son responsables por la mayoría de las demandas judiciales de dichos medicamentos. La observación de que más de 70% de las acciones enjuiciadas para ciertos medicamentos son de responsabilidad de un abogado, puede sugerir una relación estrecha entre el abogado y el fabricante del medicamento.

[Endoscopic ultrasound in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer: correlation with the surgical and/or pathological findings]. / Ecoendoscopia na avaliação pré-operatória do estádio em doentes com câncer gástrico: correlação com os achados cirúrgicos e/ou histopatológicos.

BACKGROUND: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the major cause of death by cancer in Brazil. For the planning of the treatment and evaluation of the prognosis, the preoperative staging according to the TNM classification is very important. AIM: To evaluate the results of endoscopic ultrasound for the T and N categories. METHODS: We examined 30 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma in the period of 1 year. We used a Olympus GIF UM-20. After positioning in the third portion of the duodenum, we started to evaluate the lymph node stations 16, 13, 12, 6, 5, 4, 3, 8, 7, 9, 10, 11, 1 and 2, using the frequency of 7.5 MHz. The depth of the tumor in the gastric wall was evaluated with the frequencies of 7.5 and 12 MHz. The results T and N were compared with the conclusive findings. In the unresectable cases, the correlation was made by the macroscopic findings. RESULTS: We performed 16 total gastrectomies, 7 subtotal gastrectomies, 5 exploratory laparotomies and 2 laparoscopies. For T category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 25/30 cases (83.3%). All the other 16.7% were overestimated. The accuracy varied from 90% to 96.7% according to the subcategories T1 to T4. For the N category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 23/30 cases (76.7%). Sixteen point six percent were underestimated and 6.7% overestimated. The accuracy varied from 76.7% to 90%, in agreement with the subcategories N1 to N3. CONCLUSION: There was a clear correlation between endoscopic ultrasound and the surgical and pathological findings in the evaluation of T and N categories in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

Ecoendoscopia na avaliação pré-operatória do estádio em doentes com câncer gástrico: correlação com os achados cirúrgicos e/ou histopatológicos / Endoscopic ultrasound in the preoperative staging of gastric cancer: correlation with the surgical and/or pathological findings

RACIONAL: O câncer gástrico é a maior causa de morte por câncer no Brasil. Na avaliação do prognóstico e no planejamento da terapêutica, é importante determinar o estádio e classificá-lo em TNM. OBJETIVO: Estudar os resultados da ecoendoscopia na determinação pré-operatória das categorias T e N. MÉTODOS: Foram examinados prospectivamente e de forma consecutiva 30 pacientes com adenocarcinoma gástrico no período de 1 ano. Utilizou-se o aparelho Olympus GIF-UM-20. Após seu posicionamento na terceira porção duodenal, estudaram-se as estações linfonodais 16, 13, 12, 6, 5, 4, 3, 8, 7, 9, 10, 11, 1 e 2, usando a freqüência de 7,5 MHz. Os resultados T e N foram comparados com os achados cirúrgicos e/ou histopatológicos. Nos casos irressecáveis, a correlação foi feita com os achados macroscópicos. Para a análise estatística utilizou-se o teste de correlação coeficiente kappa. RESULTADOS: Foram realizadas 16 gastrectomias totais, 7 subtotais, 5 laparotomias exploradoras e 2 videolaparoscopias. Para a categoria T a ecoendoscopia acertou em 25/30 casos (83,3 por cento). Todos os restantes 16,7 por cento foram superestimados. A precisão variou de 90 por cento a 96,7 por cento, de acordo com as subdivisões T1 a T4. Para a categoria N, a ecoendoscopia foi correta em 23/30 casos (76,7 por cento), sendo 16,6 por cento subestimados e 6,7 por cento superestimados. A precisão variou de 76,7 por cento a 90 por cento, de acordo com as subdivisões N0 a N2. CONCLUSÃO: Houve nítida correlação entre a ecoendoscopia pré-operatória e os achados cirúrgicos e/ou histopatológicos em pacientes com adenocarcinoma gástrico.

BACKGROUND: Gastric adenocarcinoma is the major cause of death by cancer in Brazil. For the planning of the treatment and evaluation of the prognosis, the preoperative staging according to the TNM classification is very important. AIM: To evaluate the results of endoscopic ultrasound for the T and N categories. METHODS: We examined 30 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma in the period of 1 year. We used a Olympus GIF UM-20Ô. After positioning in the third portion of the duodenum, we started to evaluate the lymph node stations 16, 13, 12, 6, 5, 4, 3, 8, 7, 9, 10, 11, 1 and 2, using the frequency of 7.5 MHz. The depth of the tumor in the gastric wall was evaluated with the frequencies of 7.5 and 12 MHz. The results T and N were compared with the conclusive findings. In the unresectable cases, the correlation was made by the macroscopic findings. RESULTS: We performed 16 total gastrectomies, 7 subtotal gastrectomies, 5 exploratory laparotomies and 2 laparoscopies. For T category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 25/30 cases (83.3 percent). All the other 16.7 percent were overestimated. The accuracy varied from 90 percent to 96.7 percent according to the subcategories T1 to T4. For the N category, endoscopic ultrasound results were correct in 23/30 cases (76.7 percent). Sixteen point six percent were underestimated and 6.7 percent overestimated. The accuracy varied from 76.7 percent to 90 percent, in agreement with the subcategories N1 to N3. CONCLUSION: There was a clear correlation between endoscopic ultrasound and the surgical and pathological findings in the evaluation of T and N categories in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma.

[Reliability of cause of death due to violence from information systems in Belo Horizonte, Southern Brazil]. / Confiabilidade da informação sobre mortalidade por violência em Belo Horizonte, MG.

OBJECTIVE: To determine reliability of data encoding for death due to violence; to assess the agreement between cause of death in the Mortality Information System and cause selected from the Forensic Medicine Institute database; and to assess the impact of adding information of non-specified injuries and undetermined death events subsequently obtained from Forensic Medicine Institute in the mortality statistics due to violence. METHODS: A random sample of 411 death certificates due to violence was obtained in Belo Horizonte, Southeastern Brazil, between 1998 and 2000. Based on data from death certificates and Forensic Medicine Institute database, causes of death were coded and the agreement between this information and that from Mortality Information System was assessed. Also, in all certificates including "non-specified injury" and "undetermined death events," the impact of adding information from Forensic Medicine Institute was assessed in the classification of cause of death. RESULTS: Coding agreement was significant (Kappa=0.782; 95% CI: 0.744; 0.819) and of the underlying cause was moderate to significant (Kappa=0.602; 95% CI: 0.563; 0.641). There were 12.9% and 5.7% misclassification of suicides and murders, respectively, for those causes classified as "non-specified injury" and "undetermined death events," which were overall reduced to 47.3% and 59.8% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for further improving the process of underlying cause coding and selection. Also medical examiners need to provide more complete death certificates and medical and police information provided with bodies for Forensic Medicine Institute autopsy should be more complete, especially in those cases of road traffic injuries and falls.