Urban Violence and Maxillofacial Trauma: Sex Differences in a Cross-Sectional Study From Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Abstract

Background/aim: Urban violence represents a significant public health issue globally due to its profound impact on daily life and the high prevalence of victims seeking care in health services. This study aims to evaluate sex differences in victimization patterns, using maxillofacial trauma as a marker for urban violence.

Material and methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from medical records of patients treated for traumatic injuries at a referral hospital for traumatology in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, between January 2008 and December 2022. Statistical analysis included both descriptive and multivariate methods, with logistic regression used to examine the association between epidemiological variables and sex in cases of urban violence leading to maxillofacial trauma, especially those resulting from interpersonal violence and traffic accidents.

Results: A total of 6447 records were reviewed, with 32.5% of the cases involving female patients. Among female victims, the age group of 30 to 59 years was the most frequently affected. Violence predominantly occurred at night (75.8%) and on weekdays (52.8%), with most cases classified as naked aggression (71.4%). Women were less likely to sustain multiple fractures than men (OR = 0.72, 95% CI 0.57-0.92) when compared to dentoalveolar trauma. Additionally, female patients with facial trauma were more likely to receive conservative treatment compared to male patients (OR = 1.58, 95% CI 1.31-1.91).

Conclusion: Sex differences are an important parameter in understanding victimization patterns associated with maxillofacial injuries resulting from urban violence. Is the findings suggest that men are more frequently victims of severe trauma and are more likely to undergo surgical treatment for maxillofacial fractures than women.