title: Prevalence of self-reported traffic accidents in Rio Branco, Northern Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence of self-reported traffic accidents and identify associated factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional, population-based study carried out from September 2007 to August 2008, in the urban and rural zones of Rio Branco (Northern Brazil). Data referring to adults (aged 18 to 96 years, n = 1,516) of the inquiry Health and Nutrition of Adults and Children of Rio Branco, obtained in home interviews, were analyzed. The relations between self-reported traffic accident and socioeconomic and behavior variables were analyzed by means of prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals; Poisson regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of self-reported traffic accident was 36%. In the Poisson analysis, male individuals (PR= 1.45 and 95% CI: 1.12;1.87) who reported alcohol consumption (PR= 1.25 and 95%CI: 0.97;1.62), with income above five minimum wages (PR= 1.88 and 95%CI: 1.25;2.83), aged between 18 and 25 years (PR= 1.45 and 95%CI: 1.02;2.05), presented higher probability of reporting involvement in traffic accidents. The variables age and level of schooling had inverse association with the outcome, while income had a positive association, all of them with significant tendency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of self-reported traffic accidents shows higher risk for men with higher income, lower level of schooling and who ingest alcoholic beverages. They should be the target of prevention campaigns.
authors: Departamento de Ciências da Saúde e do Desporto, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, Brasil. afmaga@ig.com.br
authors: Andréa Fernandes
authors: AF
authors: Magalhães
authors: Creso Machado
authors: CM
authors: Lopes
authors: Rosalina Jorge
authors: RJ
authors: Koifman
authors: Pascoal Torres
authors: PT
authors: Muniz