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The aim of this study was to estimate and analyze the evolution of mortality rates due to suicide in Peru between 2004 and 2013. National death records from the Peruvian Ministry of Health were analyzed, calculating the regional mortality rates due to suicide standardized by age. Similarly, rates grouped in 5-year periods were geospatially projected. There were 3,162 cases of suicide (67.2% men); the age range with the highest incidence was 20 to 29 years (28.7%) and 49.2% were due to poisoning. Suicide rates increased from 0.46 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.38-0.55) to 1.13 (95% CI = 1.01-1.25) per 100,000 people from 2004 to 2013, respectively. The highest rates of suicide were identified in Pasco, Junín, Tacna, Moquegua, and Huánuco. The suicide issue in Peru requires a comprehensive approach that entails not just identifying the areas with the highest risk, but also studying its associated factors that may explain the regional variability observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to geospatially explore the occurrence rates of car accidents involving pedestrians in Cercado de Lima (Lima District), Peru. Car accidents involving pedestrians recorded in the 2015 National Police Station Census of the National Statistics and Information Institute were described and georeferenced. Subsequently, a Kernel Density analysis was carried out to locate areas with high, medium, and low density events. Records of 171 car accidents involving pedestrians were studied: the types of vehicles involved were automobiles (56.7%) and smaller vehicles (22.8%). The highest percentage of car accidents involving pedestrians (38.6%) took place between 12:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. There were two densely populated areas and two areas with intermediate density for car accidents involving pedestrians, locations that were previously reported as critical due to their deficiencies and high probability of traffic accidents. The use of geographic information systems offers a quick overview of the occurrence rates of car accidents involving pedestrians to make comparisons and enable the local implementation of strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To calculate the burden of smoking-related disease and evaluate the potential economic and health impact of tax-induced cigarette price increase in Peru. Materials and methods. A microsimulation model was used to estimate smoking-attributable impact on mortality, quality of life, and costs associated with heart and cerebrovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, lung cancer, and another nine cancers. Three scenarios, involving increased taxes, were evaluated. Results. A yearly total of 16,719 deaths, 6,926 cancer diagnoses, 7,936 strokes, and 7,548 hospital admissions due to cardiovascular disease can be attributed to smoking in Peru. Similarly, 396,069 years of life are lost each year from premature death and disability, and the cost of treating smoking-attributable health issues rises to 2,500 million soles (PEN 2015). Currently, taxes on tobacco cover only 9.1% of this expense. If cigarette prices were to increase by 50% over the next 10 years, 13,391 deaths, 6,210 cardiovascular events, and 5,361 new cancers could be prevented, representing an economic benefit of 3,145 million (PEN) in savings in health costs and increases in tax revenues. Conclusions. Smoking-attributable burden of disease and costs to the health system are very high in Peru. Higher cigarette taxes could have substantial health and economic benefits for the country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]