RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THE RESULTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE – BEFORE AND DURING

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sexual violence is rooted in society and has several consequences that affect individual and collective health. This crime is linked to interpersonal relationships and the daily life of the population, which were clearly modified during the covid-19 pandemic. OBJECTIVES: To analyze the reports of sexual violence in the archives of Instituto Médico Legal Estácio de Lima, and Hospital da Mulher Dr. Nise da Silveira, both in Maceió/AL, corresponding to the pre-pandemic period (2018 and 2019) and the pandemic period (2020 and 2021), seeking a possible change in the profile of this crime. MATERIAL AND METHOD: This is a documentary, epidemiological, descriptive and analytical study, using sampling. A total of 2,152 reports from the IML Estácio de Lima file were analyzed between the years 2018 to 2021. RESULTS: It was found that the prevalent gender was female, but there was an increase in the percentage of males of 4.38% in the pandemic period. The predominant age group was 11 to 20 years old. In the years 2018, 2019 and 2021, those accused of committing the crime were predominantly known people, and in 2021, family members represented the majority of the aggressors. DISCUSSION: The profile of cases of sexual violence has changed markedly during the covid-19 pandemic, probably due to the restrictive measures imposed to reduce the spread of the virus in society. CONCLUSION: Human activities, interpersonal relationships and, consequently, the profile of cases of sexual violence, were clearly altered due to the covid-19 pandemic. Keywords: Covid-19; Sexual violence; Medico-legal expertise.