Epidemiological Study of Violence against Children and Its Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Stela Maria Tavolieri de Oliveira, Ewerton Alexandre Galdeano, Evelynne Maria Gomes Galvão da Trindade, Rafael Saad Fernandez, Rogerio Leone Buchaim, Daniela Vieira Buchaim, Marcelo Rodrigues da Cunha and Saulo Duarte Passos
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Stela Maria Tavolieri de Oliveira: Pediatric Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil
Ewerton Alexandre Galdeano: Pediatric Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil
Evelynne Maria Gomes Galvão da Trindade: Pediatric Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil
Rafael Saad Fernandez: Research Center, Sírio-Libanês Teaching and Research Institute, São Paulo 01308-060, Brazil
Rogerio Leone Buchaim: Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry (FOB/USP), University of São Paulo, Bauru 17012-901, Brazil
Daniela Vieira Buchaim: Postgraduate Program in Structural and Functional Interactions in Rehabilitation, Postgraduate Department, University of Marilia (UNIMAR), Marília 17525-902, Brazil
Marcelo Rodrigues da Cunha: Morphology Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil
Saulo Duarte Passos: Pediatric Department, Jundiaí Medical School, Jundiaí 13202-550, Brazil

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 19, 1-14

Abstract: The aim of this study was to identify the epidemiological profiles of violence against children, victims, and their aggressors, and their correlations between socioeconomic and demographic factors analyzed before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective observational study based on a review of Individual Notification Forms from the Information System for Notifiable Diseases, including child victims of violence, under 18 years, assisted by a pediatric emergency service in Brazil, from 2016–2020. Data were stratified, then statistical analysis was performed using the two-proportion equality test and the Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval. A total of 609 notifications were analyzed and a prevalence of sexual violence (63.2%) was reported. The prevalent profile of victim was female (76.7%), aged between 2–9 years (38.1%) and 14–18 years (35.6%). The violence occurs in the victim’s home (58.9%). The prevalent profile of perpetrator was male (82.4%), young adolescent (59.2%), living as family (64%), mainly the parents (18.4%). No correlation was found between the classified socioeconomic and demographic variables and violence. There was an increase in notifications during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to the same period in the previous year; self-harm was reported in 59.7% of physical violence in 2020. Prevalence of sexual violence was higher for females, aged between 2–9 and 14–18 years, victimized in their homes, by male offenders, living as family, mainly by their parents. No association was found between child violence and the socioeconomic and demographic.

Keywords: child abuse; exposure to violence; self-destructive behavior; risk factors; emergency hospital service; COVID-19 pandemic (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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