Maxillofacial Injuries as Markers of Interpersonal Violence in Belo Horizonte-Brazil: Analysis of the Socio-Spatial Vulnerability of the Location of Victim’s Residences

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to analyze the spatial pattern of cases of maxillofacial injuries caused by interpersonal violence, based on the location of the victim’s residence, and to investigate the existence of conditions of socio-spatial vulnerability in these areas. This is a cross-sectional study, using the data of victims attended in three emergency hospitals in Belo Horizonte-Brazil between January 2008 and December 2010. Based on the process of spatial signature, the socio-spatial condition of the victims was identified according to data from census tracts. The spatial distribution trends of the addresses of victims were analyzed using Kernel maps and Ripley’s K function. Multicriteria analysis was used to analyze the territorial insertion of victims, using a combination of variables to obtain the degree of socio-spatial vulnerability. The residences of the victims were distributed in an aggregated manner in urban areas, with a confidence level of 99%. The highest densities were found in areas of unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and, to a lesser extent, areas with worse residential and neighborhood infrastructure. Spatial clusters of households formed in slums with a significant level of socio-spatial vulnerability. Explanations of the living conditions in segregated urban areas and analysis of the concentration of more vulnerable populations should be a priority in the development of public health and safety policies.

Pattern of oral‐maxillofacial trauma from violence against women and its associated factors

“…12,27 A previous study was performed in the same region aiming to shed light on the sociodemographic characteristics and the characteristics of the conflict suffered by female victims of violence. 10,12,14,29 Soft tissues injuries of the face were the most frequent, and trauma in more than one-third of the face was the most common. Most cases involved a male perpetrator who often knew the victim.…”

“…6 Exposure to violence can reduce participation in social life, instill fear, and negatively impact the quality of life of victims. [12][13][14] There are different systems to classify violence, and one of the most widely used systems divides it into two categories: domestic violence and community violence. The face is one of the main targets of aggressors, as they consciously or unconsciously aim to affect the self-esteem of the victim.…”

Head and Face Injuries in Brazilian Schoolchildren Victims of Physical Bullying: A Population-Based Study

“…As a social phenomenon that can result from multiple causes, violence should be addressed from different perspectives and with the use of appropriate methods [2].…”

Social determinants of health and maxillofacial injuries in children and adolescents victims of violence: A novel GIS‐based modelling application

“…Conceptually, the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) refer to the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live, and grow older, as well as the broader set of forces and systems that shape everyday conditions . These characteristics of places where people live can have a relevant influence in the occurrence of violence, as well as in the occurrence of various general health and oral health problems . Thus, a better understanding of the interaction between SDH, violence against children and adolescents and oral and maxillofacial traumas through geospatial analyses based on GIS models can improve health policy strategies for the prevention of trauma, including community planning for reducing violence, assessing the needs of health services and reorienting care practices …”