The broken silence: invisible epidemic of sexual violence, rape and sexual harassment in Goiás since 2018-2022

• Autor(a) principal: Gabrielly Santana Guimarães, Eduarda
• Data de Publicação: 2024
• Outros Autores: Fontana, Rafaela Santos, Neves, Davidson Mesquita, Ferreira, Louane Arantes Valadão, Guimarães, Maria Eduarda Barros, Castro, Pedro Junio Cardoso
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: por
• Título da fonte: Brazilian Journal of Implantology and Health Sciences
• Texto Completo: https://bjihs.emnuvens.com.br/bjihs/article/view/1307
• topic: Saúde Pública; Delitos Sexuais; Violência contra a Mulher; Public Health; Sex Offenses; Violence Against Women

Introduction: Sexual violence encompasses sexual activities without consent, with rape being its most severe form. Sexual harassment, in turn, involves unwanted behaviors that violate the integrity and rights of women. It mainly affects women, leading to physical and psychological complications, as well as significant social and health costs. The associated stigma and legal unawareness inhibit victims from seeking help. Objective: To characterize reported cases of sexual violence, rape, and sexual harassment in Goiás between 2018 and 2022. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive, analytical, retrospective study with a quantitative approach, based on secondary data collection from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). Reported cases of sexual violence, rape and sexual harassment in the state of Goiás, in the period 2018-2022, were selected. Results: Reported cases of sexual violence, rape, and sexual harassment in Goiás increased between 2018 and 2022, except in 2020, mainly due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The analysis reveals that women represent the vast majority of victims, with a rate of 88%, and the most vulnerable age group is 10-14 years. Additionally, people of mixed race are the most affected, highlighting the intersectionality between gender and race. Sexual violence is also correlated with socioeconomic factors and has an alarming prevalence among individuals with low educational attainment. Conclusion: Sexual violence, rape, and harassment represent a serious public health problem, with adverse effects on both the physical and mental health of victims, including deep and lasting traumas. Awareness, effective policy implementation, and support for victims are crucial to reverse this invisible epidemic and to build a safe and respectful environment for all. The accuracy and precision of the results are essential, highlighting the importance of professionals in correctly entering information in the notification form, thus avoiding underreporting. It is essential to break the silence and give voice to the victims, triggering concrete actions that promote prevention, justice, and social transformation.