Physical and sexual aggression against elderly persons reported in the city of São Paulo

Abstract

Objectives: To characterize the population of elderly people who have suffered physical and sexual violence, and describe the features of this aggression based on the Information System for Violence and Injury Surveillance (ISVIS) of the Municipal Health Department of the city of São Paulo. Method: A cross-sectional, retrospective study was performed of all cases of elderly victims of physical and sexual violence reported in São Paulo in 2013. Results: A total of 602 cases of elderly victims of physical abuse were reported, of which 52.3% were male. In the same period there were ten reported cases of elderly victims of sexual assault, 90% of whom were female. The main diagnosis of injury was head trauma (33.2%) and 65.0% of victims were discharged from hospital immediately. Conclusion: Physical abuse with the use of physical force was higher among male elderly persons, and sexual assault was higher among women. Most of the attacks took place at the residence of the elderly person, and were committed by family members.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms and cognition in elderly victims of violence

“…The continuity in family and community relationships contribute to the prevention or delay of cognitive deficit, and the results of the present study confirm that elderly people living without companions had a higher occurrence of cognitive deficit (36) . However, in the contemporary world, the family environment has been classified as the main place of perpetration of violence against the elderly, having, most of the time, as aggressors, people inserted in the family context (37)(38) . It should be noted that, in addition to the company, the family must be prepared to provide social support, considered one of the most relevant aspects for improving the quality of life of the elderly (39) .…”

Uma visão geral de um paí­s em desenvolvimento sobre homens ví­timas de violência fí­sica e sexual

“…Na presente casuística, homens vitimados por agressão física e/ou sexual, 24 casos possuía algum tipo de deficiência, seja física ou mental. Vale ressaltar a provável subnotificação das agressões e o preenchimento inadequado das fichas de notificação de casos suspeitos e/ou confirmados de acidentes e violência pelos profissionais de saúde 19 . São discutidos como possíveis contribuintes para geração de conflitos, tendo por resultado o comprometimento e a desestruturação familiar.…”

Hidden violence against the institutionalized elderly

“…Violence against the elderly is not only a Brazilian problem, it is a universal problem that occurs in different cultures, regardless of socioeconomic status, ethnicity and religion. The social implications of aging for public health are an important concern, since, unlike developed countries, the increase in life expectancy has been gradual and has occurred in conjunction with increased scientific and technological development, enabling better quality of life and health 23,24 . In contrast to other instruments that tend to be implicitly critical of the aggressor, the CASE encourages the interviewee to give answers that are more acceptable in society, which justifies its potential to search for information in depth and to diagnose hidden violence 1 .…”

“…A violência contra os idosos não é apenas um problema brasileiro, é um problema universal que ocorre em diferentes culturas, independentemente do status socioeconômico, etnia e religião. As implicações sociais do envelhecimento para a saúde pública são uma preocupação importante, pois, diferentemente dos países desenvolvidos, o aumento da expectativa de vida tem sido gradual e ocorreu em conjunto com o aumento do desenvolvimento científico e tecnológico, possibilitando melhor qualidade de vida e saúde 23,24 . Em contraste com outros instrumentos que tendem a ser críticos implicitamente do agressor, o CASE incentiva o entrevistado a dar respostas mais aceitáveis na sociedade, o que justifica seu potencial para pesquisar informações em profundidade e diagnosticar a violência oculta 1 .…”