Female homicides in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and its health regions between 2000 and 2016

Abstract

Background

Female homicides present high magnitude and transcendence in the Northeast region of Brazil.

Objective

To analyze the temporal evolution of mortality due to female homicide in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and its health regions between 2000 and 2016.

Method

Ecological study using negative binomial regression for trend analysis.

Results

The average mortality rate for the period analyzed was 5.08 deaths per 100,000 women, with the highest rates observed in the metropolitan region (5.92) and in the municipality of Mossoró (5.60). Most of the deaths were of unmarried women, with the use of firearms, and occurred at home. There was an upward trend in mortality in all age groups up to age 49 and in the metropolitan region of João Câmara. An upward trend was also observed in the mortality rate of firearm homicides in all health regions of the state, except for Caicó and Pau dos Ferros, where these rates showed a stationary trend.

Conclusion

The state of Rio Grande do Norte and its health regions show female homicide rates similar to those of countries with the greatest violence against women, indicating the need for greater investments in the protection network for women in situations of domestic violence.

Keywords:
homicide; women; gender-based violence; mortality; ecological studies