VIOLENCE AGAINST THE ELDERLY IN A CAPITAL OF THE LEGAL AMAZON BETWEEN 2016 AND 2021: AN EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: The aging process brings challenges to the health of the elderly person, with violence being a worrying factor due to the increased vulnerability that has invaluable consequences. Objective: to analyze the epidemiological profile of notifications of violence against older people. Material and methods: Ecological, descriptive study, conducted in the Department of Health Surveillance of the Municipal Health Secretariat of Porto Velho-RO, whose target population were older adults, residents in the municipality, affected by some type of interpersonal/self-inflicted violence and notified between 2016 and 2021. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics through absolute and relative frequencies, discussed in the light of the literature. Results: Between 2016 and 2021, 59 cases of violence against older people were reported. Most of them happened between 60 and 69 years old (55.93%), in women (50.85%), brown race/color (60.01%), married/consensual union (27.12%), with no disability or physical/mental disorder (55.93%) and incomplete/not answered (50.85%). Interpersonal violence (93.22%) and (42.37%) recurrent violence were the most reported, being at home (81.36%), the main notifying units were emergencies (62.71). Physical violence was the most frequent in men (54.05%) and psychological/moral abuse (73.33%) in women. The preferred means of aggression was body force/beating (38.57%) and the main abuser was the child (23.53%). Conclusion: The need for an in-depth investigation was highlighted regarding the numerous underreported cases and the importance of comprehensive care aimed at the health of older people in all Health Care Networks, especially with regard to the early identification of abuse.