The relationship between the Maria da Penha Law and intimate partner violence in two Brazilian states

Abstract

BackgroundGlobally, inequality between men and women manifests in a variety of ways. In particular, gender inequality increases the risk of perpetration of violence against women (VAW), especially intimate partner violence (IPV), by males. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 35 % of women have experienced physical, psychological and/or sexual IPV at least once in their lives, making IPV unacceptably common. In 2006, the Maria da Penha Law on Domestic and Family Violence, became the first federal law to regulate VAW and punish perpetrators in Brazil. This study examines the relationship between Brazilian VAW legislation and male perpetration of VAW by comparing reported prevalence of IPV before and after the enactment of the Maria da Penha Law.MethodsTo assess changes in magnitude of IPV before and after the law, we used data from the 2013 Brazilian National Health Survey; we replicated the analyses conducted for the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence Against Women-whose data were collected before the passage of the Maria da Penha Law. We compare findings from the two studies.ResultsOur analyses show an increase in the reported prevalence of physical violence, and a decrease in the reported prevalence of sexual and psychological violence. The increase may result from an actual increase in physical violence, increased awareness and reporting of physical violence, or a combination of both factors. Additionally, our analysis revealed that in the urban setting of São Paulo, physical violence was more likely to be severe and occur in the home; meanwhile, in the rural state of Pernambuco, physical violence was more likely to be moderate in nature and occur in public.ConclusionThe Maria da Penha Law increased attention and resources for VAW response and prevention; however, its true impact remains unmeasured. Our data suggest a need for regular, systematic collection of comparable population-based data to accurately estimate the true prevalence of IPV in Brazil. Furthermore, such data may inform policy and program planning to address specific needs across diverse settings including rural and urban communities. If routinely collected over time, such data can be used to develop policies and programs that address all forms of IPV, as well as evidence-based programs that address the social and cultural norms that support other forms of VAW and gender inequality.

Social comorbidities? A qualitative study mapping syndemic theory onto gender-based violence and co-occurring social phenomena among Brazilian women

“…IPV is the most common form of GBV with an estimated 30.0% of women aged 15 or older experiencing physical or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime worldwide [ 1 ]. Brazil — in addition to having high rates of IPV — faces elevated rates of non-lethal community violence, drug possession crimes, and homicide [ 2 – 5 ]. In this analysis, we examine this range of comorbid social conditions through a thematic analysis of qualitative interviews from Brazil conceptually framed with syndemics.…”

“…The majority of these femicides are attributed to IPV [ 13 ]. Estimates of physical and sexual IPV in Brazil are as high as 36.9% [ 14 ] and psychological IPV estimates are between 41.8-48.9% [ 2 , 3 ]. Beyond IPV, social comorbidities are also prevalent in Brazil.…”

A panorama of health inequalities in Brazil

“…In terms of injuries, Morais Neto et al [10] discuss important disparities in road traffic injuries by regional and individual characteristics, while Gattengo et al [11] demonstrate trends in intimate partner violence against women following the passage of legal protections (Maria da Pena law) in 2006.…”

Contexto Da Violência Conjugal Em Tempos De Maria Da Penha: Um Estudo Em Grounded Theory

“…Além disso, a violência psicológica também se fez presente na vida através da vigilância constante, da limitação do ir e vir e do isolamento social. Essas ações deixam claro o controle sobre os comportamentos e decisões da mulher, comprometendo sua saúde emocional (16) .…”