Prevalence of sexual violence and associated factors among primary school students - Brazil, 2015

Analysis of reported cases of sexual violence in Espírito Santo, southeastern Brazil, 2011-2018

BACKGROUND

sexual violence includes all sexual acts consummated or attempt to obtain them, unwanted sexual comments and actions that go against the other's sexuality through coercion, which can be done through the use of physical force, psychological pressure, extortion or threat, this phenomenon appears in all life cycles. Identified the frequency and characteristics of sexual violence against women in a state in the southeastern region of Brazil. from 2011 to 2018.

METHOD

this is a cross-sectional epidemiological study that evaluated all cases of sexual violence reported in Espírito Santo, present in the Information System of Diseases and Notifications of the Ministry of Health from 2011 to 2018. The analysis was based on performed in Stata 14.1.

RESULTS

the prevalence of notification of sexual violence was 13.2% (CI95%: 12.8-13.5). Most victims were women (PR: 3.38), aged between 0 and 9 years (PR: 19), with a higher prevalence in people without disabilities or disorders (PR: 1.18) and residents of urban/periurban area (PR: 1.15). Men were the most frequent aggressors (PR: 13.79), with the most prevalent cases being reported by people unknown to the victim (PR: 6.01). The occurrence was 78% more reported at home and committed by an aggressor (PR:1.19). Most cases were repeated (PR:1.13).

CONCLUSIONS

the notification of sexual violence in Espírito Santo was high and evidenced the vulnerability of some groups, as well as the profile of the perpetrators. It is necessary to work on training professionals in the areas of health and education in relation to the identification of cases of sexual violence, mainly due to the significant involvement of children and adolescents.

[The experience of forced sexual intercourse among undergraduate students: associated factors and possible consequences]

The scope of this article is to investigate the prevalence of the experience of forced sexual intercourse on life and its possible consequences on mental and sexual health among undergraduate students at a public university in Brazil. It is a quantitative cross-sectional study with 996 undergraduate students. Sampling was carried out systematically by single-stage clusters. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the Poisson Regression model, and the etiological fractions of the consequences of forced sexual intercourse were calculated. The lifetime prevalence of forced sexual intercourse was 12.1%. Female sex, non-heterosexual sexual orientation, first sexual intercourse before the age of 14, child food insecurity and domestic violence were associated with a higher prevalence of the outcome. Individuals who experienced forced sexual intercourse were more likely to be diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections and to represent a potential suicide risk. The study revealed the problems of sexual violence in the university context.

Impactos do Bullying na Autoestima e Autoimagem

A aparência física é um dos principais aspectos relacionados à vivência de bullying, violência que pode afetar a autoestima dos envolvidos. Com o objetivo de investigar a ocorrência de bullying motivado por aparência física no período da adolescência e seus impactos no bem-estar de estudantes por meio dos níveis de autoimagem e autoestima, 107 estudantes universitários responderam retrospectivamente a um questionário. Do total, 66,4% apontaram ter sofrido vitimização, destacando-se violências do tipo verbal, relacional e sexual. Peso, formato corporal e cabelo foram os aspectos da aparência física relacionados à ocorrência de violência mais relatados, e 35,1% das mulheres apontaram o gênero. Os participantes obtiveram uma média alta para autoimagem e baixa para autoestima, e aqueles que sofreram bullying apresentaram escores estatisticamente inferiores aos daqueles que não sofreram. São necessários trabalhos de prevenção ao bullying sensíveis às questões de gênero.

Prevalência de violência sexual em escolares no Brasil

Objetivo: analisar a prevalência de violência sexual entre escolares adolescentes de 13 a 17 anos no Brasil. Métodos: estudo transversal com dados da Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar de 2019. Foram analisadas as prevalências de abuso sexual e estupro e seus respectivos intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC95%) envolvendo escolares de 13 a 17 anos no Brasil, segundo sexo, faixa etária, tipo de instituição, agressor, região admisnistrativa de residência e unidades federadas. Resultados: a prevalência de abuso sexual entre escolares foi de 14,6% (IC95%:14,2;15,1) e de estupro foi de 6,3% (IC95%:6,0;6,6). Maiores prevalências ocorreram entre adolescentes do sexo feminino e da faixa etária de 16 e 17 anos. O agressor mais comum para ambos indicadores foi o namorado(a), ex-namorado(a), ficante ou crush. Entre os escolares que sofreram estupro, mais da metade relatou ter sofrido essa violência antes dos 13 anos de idade (53,2%; IC95%: 51,0;55,4). Conclusão: a violência sexual tem elevada prevalência entre os escolares de 13 a 17 anos no Brasil, além de as agressões serem perpetradas, em sua maior parte, por pessoas do núcleo familiar e das relações íntimas e de afeto. É necessário que haja articulação intersetorial para desenvolver políticas públicas que atuem no enfrentamento ao problema.

Sexual Violence against Adolescents in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil: An Analysis of Reported Cases

OBJECTIVE

We describe the prevalence of the reported cases of sexual violence against adolescents and analyze their associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional analytical study (n = 561) was conducted with reported data on sexual violence against adolescents in the state of Espírito Santo registered in SINAN between 2011 and 2018 to understand the prevalence and predictors of sexual violence against adolescent victims, as well as to describe the perpetrators and the nature of the aggression. Variables to characterize the victim, aggression, and perpetrator were used. Bivariate analyses were performed using chi-square (χ²) and Fisher's exact tests, and multivariate analyses were conducted using log-binomial models; the results were presented with prevalence ratios. All analyses were stratified by sex.

RESULTS

The prevalence of sexual violence was 32.6%, and 93% of the victims were female. In both males and females, the reported sexual violence was associated with a younger age (10-12 years old), living at home, being related to the perpetrator, and a history of sexual violence. In females, the reported sexual violence was also associated with the number of perpetrators, and in males, with the perpetrator's age.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show the high frequency of reporting of sexual violence and the characteristics of the victim, the aggression, and the aggressor as factors associated with its occurrence in both sexes. The importance of health information systems for disseminating data and the need for measures to prevent and treat the violence among adolescents is urgent.

Temporal trend of sexual violence against adolescent women in Brazil, 2011-2018

This study aimed to analyze the temporal trend of sexual violence (SV) reports against adolescent women in Brazil from 2011 to 2018. An ecological time series study was performed on reports of SV against women aged 10 to 19, which were available in the National Notifiable Diseases Reporting System (SINAN). Data were collected in 2020 but are related to reports filed from 2011 to 2018. The Prais-Winsten linear regression model was applied to analyze the time trend, including a calculation of the annual percentage variation (APC) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). We found a significant trend increase in all Brazilian regions. Although the rates in the Northern region are higher at the beginning and at the end of the analyzed time period, the reporting rates of the Southeast (APC 14.56%; 95%CI 7.98;21.54) and the South (APC 14.19%; 95%CI 6.56;22.36) showed a greater increase. The increase of SV reports in recent years shows how vulnerable adolescent women are to this type of violence, but also indicates greater improvement of violence surveillance systems. We conclude that both reporting systems and public policies aimed at tackling SV against women need to be further developed.

Lifetime Prevalence of Sexual Violence and Its Associated Factors among High School Female Students in Jarso District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Background

Sexual violence is a serious public health problem affecting millions of young girls and women across the world. Recently, the issue of sexual violence against schoolgirls has garnered global and national attention with implications for health and education outcomes. Sexual violence is driven by a multitude of risk factors that occur at different levels. Understanding the magnitude, risk factors, and conceptuality of sexual violence is crucial for setting priorities and elimination efforts at different levels. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the lifetime prevalence of sexual violence and associated factors among high school female students in Jarso district, Oromia region, eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public high schools of Jarso district, eastern Ethiopia, from 1^st March to 5^th April 2019. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 559 eligible study participants. Data were collected by a structured self-administered questionnaire. The outcome measure of interest was lifetime sexual violence. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were done. Statistically significant association of variables had been declared based on the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with its 95% CI and p value < 0.05.

Results

The overall magnitude of sexual violence among female students was 28.6% (95% CI: 25%-32.2%) in the study area. Forty (7.2%) participants have experienced coercive sex against their consent. Participant's level of education ((AOR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.03–2.30)), being unmarried ((AOR = 2.80, 95% CI (1.40–5.81)), consumption of alcohol ((AOR = 3.41, 95% CI (1.11–10.40)), using substances (hashish and/or shisha) ((AOR = 2.6, 95% CI (1.02–6.50)), and ever initiated sexual intercourse ((AOR = 5.9, 95% CI (3.3–10.7)) were positively and statistically associated with sexual violence at p value < 0.05.

Conclusion

The overall magnitude of sexual violence was relatively high (28.6%). Thus, any intervention aimed to address sexual violence should consider the identified associated risk factors in the study area.

Prevalence of sexual abuse and its association with health-risk behaviors among Brazilian adolescents: A populational study

BACKGROUND

Analysis of sexual abuse has usually been neglected in research at developing countries despite its everlasting consequences. This study examined the prevalence of sexual abuse among Brazilian adolescents according to data from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE) and analyzed it based on Brazilian regions, sociodemographic aspects, health information, and health-risk behaviors among Brazilian adolescents who reported having experienced sexual abuse previously.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING

The PeNSE data were utilized, and the sample included 102,072 students from all over Brazil, aged between 11 and 19 years.

METHODS

Data were collected by questionnaires and were analyzed by multivariate analysis using the Poisson regression model.

RESULTS

The results denoted a relation between sexual abuse, social determinants of health variables (i.e., black, indigenous, and mixed skin color/ethnicity; Brazilian region public school, age between 15 and 18 years, and low education level of the mother), and health-risk behaviors (i.e., early sexual intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, unprotected sexual intercourse, use of tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drugs).

CONCLUSION

Therefore, reports of sexual abuse are associated with risky behaviors. Given these findings, targeted interventions on sexual abuse are essential for the health of adolescents and the prevention of risky behaviors, and can also facilitate programs to prevent sexual abuse.

Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents Taking Place in Schools: An Integrative Review

Sexual violence against children and adolescents is considered a public health problem of worldwide scope. The objective is to analyze the findings in the literature that address the phenomenon of sexual violence against children and adolescents in the school environment; is an integrative literature review that has as its element-problem of interest children and adolescent victims of sexual violence in schools. The research filters used were: the availability of the text (free full text) and publication date (in the last five years); Initially, 1199 studies were identified, then, after application of filters and the removal of duplicated studies, a total of 175 studies was reached. Subsequently, the selection of articles occurred with the sieve of the titles, resulting in 20 studies. From these, 13 proceeded to the eligibility stage, with three being excluded after a full reading. Therefore, nine studies composed the final sample. One of the factors related to the occurrence of sexual violence against children and adolescents in schools is the absence of educational spaces on the subject, being the main parameter for approaching the outline of identification and prevention strategies, with the insertion of sexual education on the school routine, with the participation of the family.

Family and School Context: Effects on the Mental Health of Brazilian Students

Mental health during adolescence can affect an individual’s long-term quality of life. However, the effects of family and school contexts on students’ mental health have been little explored. This study aims to analyze the relationships between family and school life and feelings of loneliness and trouble sleeping owing to worries in adolescents. The data from this cross-sectional study were obtained from Brazil’s National School Health Survey (PeNSE), which obtained its data through questionnaires. This study’s sample consisted of 102,072 ninth-grade students aged between 11 and 19 years, 52,782 (51.7%) of whom were female, enrolled in public and private schools throughout Brazil. The methodology consisted of an analysis using the Poisson regression model. Regarding the family context, mental health issues were associated with hunger, distant relationships with parents, and family violence. Regarding the school context, feelings of loneliness and trouble sleeping were associated with poor peer relationships, insecurity at school, and schools in more violent areas. This study contributes to the elaboration of public policies aimed at bringing awareness to family members and school bodies that indicators of mental health in adolescents are influenced by the quality of bonds established within these environments.

Public Health, HIV Care and Prevention, Human Rights and Democracy at a Crossroad in Brazil

On January 2019, Brazil's new far-right president Jair Bolsonaro was sworn into office. Bolsonaro's administration supports downsizing the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS), while increasing the size of the private health sector. The new administration might leave millions of Brazilians without medical care, including hundreds of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS. Bolsonaro's administration, allied with a highly conservative Congress and sharp decreases in federal funding for public health, education and research, could jeopardize key health and human rights strategies focused on women, LGBTQ + individuals, Indigenous populations, and people living with HIV/AIDS.