Characterization of notifications of violence against women living in rural contexts in Brazil from 2011 to 2020.

Abstract

Objective: To describe and analyze notifications and the temporal trend of violence against women living in rural contexts in Brazil, from 2011 to 2020.

Methods: Ecological time-series study of a descriptive and analytical nature, with data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System on violence against women aged 18 to 59 years, in rural areas, from 2011 to 2020, in Brazil. The analyses were descriptive and trend-related, with the regression model using inflection points (joinpoint) and calculation of the annual percent change (APC) and the average annual percent change (AAPC).

Results: A total of 79,229 notifications of violence against rural women were recorded. The most reported violence was physical (77.6%), psychological/moral (36.5%), and sexual (6.2%). They occurred, above all, among young, Black, married women with low levels of education. They were committed, in most cases, at home and, mainly, by a male partner. APC was statistically increasing throughout the studied period in Brazil, in the North, Midwest, South, and Northeast regions, including 18 states and the Federal District (DF). As for AAPC, all country, region, state, and DF rates showed a statistically increasing trend.

Conclusion: In view of the increasing reported cases of violence against rural women throughout the country, which are mainly committed by people they are related to and in their own home, it is encouraged to reinforce the training of health professionals to improve and expand the process of notification as an instrument of care for women in situations of violence.