Domestic violence, particularly in childhood, is a growing public health concern. Information on morbidity is mostly underreported due to constraints in case detection. This paper analyzes the frequency of events measured actively by outpatient services as compared to spontaneous reports. Information on violence was assessed for 245 families from April to June 2001 using the Conflict Tactics Scales: Parent-Child Version (CTSPC) and the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2). Cases referred to the Social Work Department provided the caseload for the active search period (12 months). There was a high prevalence of physical violence in the couple, with serious events occurring in 17.0% of the families. In relation to children, cases of "minor" physical aggression were reported in 46.0% of families and serious cases in 9.9%. The spontaneously identified prevalence was 3.3%. This case study demonstrates the missed opportunities for detection and calls attention to the need to review the approach to domestic violence by health services.

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O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as barreiras impeditivas do acesso ao rastreio do câncer do colo uterino no âmbito da Saúde da Família do Município de Nova Iguaçu, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Por meio de um inquérito domiciliar foram entrevistadas 281 mulheres com idades entre 20 e 59 anos. Para avaliação das barreiras de acesso ao exame, utilizou-se a versão em português do instrumento Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). O medo relacionado ao resultado do exame (39,85%; IC95%: 34,09-45,61) e ao profissional examinador (31,31%; IC95%: 25,86-36,77), a vergonha (39,85%; IC95%: 34,09-45,61) e o esquecimento relacionado ao agendamento do exame (32,02%; IC95%: 26,53-37,51) foram referidos como as principais barreiras impeditivas do acesso. Como os fatores de impedimento variaram de acordo com as características sociodemográficas da população, acredita-se que a estruturação das práticas de rastreio da doença deve ser pautada na realidade territorial.

Detecção de maus-tratos contra a criança: oportunidades perdidas em serviços de emergência na cidade do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil Detection of child abuse: missed opportunities in emergency rooms in Rio de Janeiro,

Suggested citation: Phebo L, de Moura AT. Urban violence: a challenge for pediatricians. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2005;81(5 Suppl):S189-S196. AbstractObjectives: To present the main aspects of an approach to urban violence among children and adolescents and to point out the social and educational role of pediatricians.Sources of data: A literature review based on MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO was carried out for the years 1993 to 2005, using the following keywords: urban violence, children and adolescents. In addition to the review, policies and institutional reports on violence were also analyzed. Summary of the findings:The causal relationship of violence is presented in a range of different ways, from personal points of view to broader structural aspects. The literature suggests that urban violence results from varied actions, and also from specific risk behaviors. It is a worrying and complex phenomenon that results in high levels of morbidity and mortality, affecting children and adolescents. Special attention was given to homicide and to the psychological results of violent acts. Firearms are the most lethal instruments among adolescents and young males when compared to all other causes of death.Conclusions: Urban violence is one of the main social problems in Brazil. Violence prevention requires intersectoral and multiprofessional actions with the participation of the government and of the organized civil society. Children, and above all adolescents, are the groups that are most widely exposed to the consequences of urban violence. Pediatricians can have an important role in the process of prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Through their wide-ranging abilities, pediatricians are well-positioned to help victims and their families to establish a healthy and dynamic relationship with their environment and with themselves.J Pediatr (Rio J). 2005;81(5 Suppl):S187-S196: Children, adolescents, homicide, firearms.