Prevalence of Sexual Violence among Schoolchildren in Brazil: Data from the 2019 National School Health

• Main Author: Vasconcelos, Nádia Machado de
• Publication Date: 2022
• Other Authors: Andrade, Fabiana Martins Dias de, Pinto, Isabella Vitral, Gomes, Crizian Saar, Souza, Maria de Fátima Marinho de, Reinach, Sofia, Stein, Caroline, Andrade, Gisele Nepomuceno de, Malta, Deborah Carvalho
• Format: Article
• Language: por; eng
• Source: Reme (Online)
• Download full: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/38473
• topic: Delitos sexuais; Adolescente; Inquéritos Epidemiológicos; Brasil; Epidemiologia; Sex Offenses; Adolescent; Health Surveys; Brazil; Epidemiology; Delitos Sexuales; Adolescente; Encuestas Epidemiológicas; Brasil; Epidemiología

Objective: to analyze the prevalence of sexual violence among schoolchildren aged from 13 to 17 years old in Brazil. Methods: a cross-sectional study conducted with data from the 2019 National School Health Survey. The prevalence values for sexual abuse and rape and their respective 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) involving students aged from 13 to 17 years old in Brazil were analyzed according to gender, age group, type of institution, aggressor, administrative region of residence and federated units. Results: the prevalence of sexual abuse among schoolchildren was 14.6% (95% CI: 14.2; 15.1) and the one for rape was 6.3% (95% CI: 6.0; 6.6). Higher prevalence values were found among female adolescents an in the age group of 16 and 17 years old. The most common aggressor for both indicators was boyfriend/girlfriend, ex-boyfriend, date or crush. Among the schoolchildren who were victims of rape, more than half reported having suffered this type of violence before 13 years of age (53.2%; 95% CI: 51.0; 55.4). Conclusion: sexual violence has high prevalence among schoolchildren aged from 13 to 17 years old in Brazil, in addition to the aggressions being mostly perpetrated by people from the family nucleus and by individuals with intimate and affection ties. Intersectoral articulation is necessary to develop public policies that act on coping with the problem.