Characteristics of victims of violence during the peri-pandemic period of COVID-19

Abstract

Introduction: Violence is a public health demand and requires public health prevention, promotion and control policies.

Objetive: Outlining the profile of victims of violence hospitalized from 2017 to 2021 at a university hospital.

Method: Data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) were applied and variables such as gender, age, area of residence, kind of violence, means used and probable perpetrator were analyzed.

Results: A total of 1,221 notifications were systematized, with major dimensions to women. The most affected age groups were from 1 to 4 years old (24%) followed by from 20 to 34 years old (14%). The most common kinds of violence were neglect (49%) followed by physical violence (30%) and sexual violence (7%). In 63% of the cases, violence occurred at home and a relative member was identified in 86% of them as the possible perpetrator of violence.

Conclusion: There was an increase in repeat violence and self-inflicted harm.