Who are the adult women exposed to violence in Brazil?

To estimate the prevalence of violence subtypes and analyze some demographic, socioeconomic, and health factors associated with violence against women in Brazil.

Cross-sectional epidemiological study using the 2019 National Survey of Health. The prevalences of some violence subtypes (psychological, physical, and sexual) in the 12 months prior to the interview were estimated in the country, per federative units. The characteristics of each subtype of violence were also analyzed. Additionally, the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were estimated by a multivariate model according to the following potential demographic, socioeconomic, and health associated factors: age group, education, skin color, place of residence, household income, marital status, social support network, self-rated health, alcohol consumption, depression, and sexually transmitted infections.

In 2019, 19.38% of Brazilian women reported experiencing violence, with psychological violence being the most common subtype both in isolation and in conjunction with other subtypes. The main aggressor was an intimate partner and most of the violent acts occurred at home, with more than half of women reporting at least one consequence of these acts. Younger women, those with worse self-rated health, alcohol consumption, depression, and sexually transmitted infections had a higher prevalence of all violence subtypes.

One in five Brazilian women reported experiencing violence in the past 12 months. Violence against women is positively associated with younger ages, lower education, Black and Brown skin color, smaller support networks, and health-related factors such as self-rated health, alcohol consumption, depression, and sexually transmitted infections.