Violence against old people in the city of Campinas, São Paulo, in the last 11 years: a temporal analysis

Abstract

Objective

To analyze the notifications of cases of violence against old people in the period from 2009 to 2019 using data obtained from the Violence Notification System (SISNOV) in the city of Campinas, State of São Paulo, Brazil.

Method

This is an epidemiological research with a quantitative, descriptive approach and temporal trend. For the analysis of the notifications, information was observed according to the sociodemographic variables characteristic of violence and its aggressor, and according to the annual temporal analysis: age group, types of violence, means of aggression, and gender of the author.

Results

1,217 old people suffered aggression, (69.5%) of which were female, with a predominance of the age group between 60 and 69 years (35.8%), widows (37.7%), and whites (64.4%). The most prevalent type of violence was neglect (33.1%), with the residence (92.9%) being the place of greatest occurrence. Most of the aggressors were male (55.6%), and the way to do it was with body strength (24.4%). The temporal trend analysis showed an increase in the age group: 60-69 years, physical violence, means used for that - body strength, objects, and poisoning -, and gender of the aggressor - both.

Conclusion

The results obtained were in line with other studies, indicating a trend in the profile of victims and aggression, and it is important for this group to know their rights and be encouraged to make complaints, as well as health professionals so that increasingly effective public policies are developed to address this issue.

Keywords
Domestic Violence; Health of the Elderly; Elder Abuse; Health Information Systems