Mulheres vítimas de violência sexual: perfil sociodemográfico e características das agressões

Abstract

Sexual violence is a serious public health problem in Brazil, since the high rates of cases burden the country's public health system and affect people of both genders, different ethnicities, social classes and religions. According to the Brazilian Public Security Yearbook, 47% of victims are women over 14 years of age whose physical and mental health are affected in short, medium and long term. Thus, this research was motivated by the importance of knowing the profile of these women, their sociodemographic characteristics, the nature of the sexual assaults suffered and their attributes, as well as the annual variation of care rates so that public services can adequately accommodate these victims, based on the local reality to adapt assistance protocols. It was carried out at a university hospital in the city of Uberlândia, through a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective study, with an exploratory quantitative approach that examined the information contained in physical and electronic medical records and in SINAN files referring to female victims of sexual violence, over 14 years of age, attended at the institution from 2014 to 2020. The research obtained as sociodemographic profile of patients women between 14 and 18 years old, white, with a low level of education and single. Regarding the nature of the reported attacks, the highest rates indicate acute sexual violence, exclusively vaginally, under physical force, without beatings, committed between midnight and six in the morning, by unique and unknown aggressors, mainly in the eastern sector of the city. The annual variation in the number of cases attended fluctuated between 2014 and 2019, with a sudden increase of assaults in 2020, committed mainly by criminals who had some connection with the victim. The research obtained relevant data for improving protocols for assisting victims, supporting and encouraging new research on this topic, and can also be used for ongoing education and awareness-raising among professionals working in the area. The results highlight the need for coordination between health and public safety to reduce rates of sexual violence. It is proposed that more studies focusing on women victims of sexual violence be conducted in other reference institutions so that more effective public safety strategies can be developed and rates of violence against women can be reduced.