Violence against adolescents in Brazilian capitals based on a survey conducted at emergency services

Abstract

This study explored the characteristics of violence against adolescents who received treatment at urgent and emergency care centers participating in the 2014 Violence and Accident Surveillance System (Sistema de Vigilância de Violências e Acidentes, VIVA) survey and determined the association between demographic variables and the characteristics of violent events. The sample was composed of 815 adolescents who responded to the 2014 VIVA survey. Correspondence analysis was used to determine possible associations between the variables. Victims were predominantly males and the most common form of aggression was the use of firearms and sharp objects. Among males aged between 15 and 19 years, violent acts were predominantly committed in public thoroughfares and by strangers, and the most common injuries consisted of fractures and cuts, while among younger adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years the most common form of aggression was threats made by friends at school. The most common place of occurrence among females was the home. It is concluded that violence against adolescents permeates the chief agencies of socialization – the family and school – demonstrating the need to mobilize the whole society in tackling this problem.

Violence; Adolescent; Aggression; External cause; Surveillance