The study aimed to know about violence and abuse against elderly in Fortaleza city, Ceará State, Brazil. It analyzed 291 complaints registered by the Alô Idoso program, in that city in 2007, which were being investigated, using a previously prepared form. Data, collected in February and March 2008, were analyzed by statistic programs (SPSS and chi-score test), compared with data of complaints already investigated, from 2003 to 2007 provided by the Alô Idoso, and discussed based on scientific literature. The results showed predominance of familiar violence. The preferential victims were women (70.2%); elderly aged 71-80 years (38.2%); living with the aggressor (70.4%) and within the Secretaria Executiva Regional III (25.1%). Most complaints were anonymous (77.1%) and the main aggressors were men (54.7%) and sons and daughters (57.7%). Psychological violence was the most frequent (35.2%) and more than one type of violence was involved in 66.5% of cases. It was found association between violence and: sex of aggressors (p=0.019); living with the victim (p<0.0001); adult aggressor or not (p=0.021), and elderly age (p=0.001). To fight abuse against the elderly, we suggest: denunciation of violence; construction of an integrated database; coordination and strengthening of the social protection network, professional qualification; educational campaigns about ageing, orientation for families, legal penalty for aggressors and other investigative studies with intervention strategies.
Elderly; Violence; Family; Elder Abuse; Public Policy
