Mapping of underreporting of interpersonal violence based on the occurrence of homicides in Brazilian municipalities, 2016-2018

Cien Saude Colet. 2025 Dec;30(12):e08432024. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320253012.08432024. Epub 2025 May 16.

ABSTRACT

Identify municipalities with underreporting of interpersonal violence based on homicide in Brazil, 2016 to 2018. Ecological study with rate on violence from the Notifiable Diseases Information System and homicide estimates from the Global Burden of Disease concerning < 20 years, women of 20 to 59 years, ≥ 60 years and the total of these subgroups. Bivariate Local Moran identified clusters of critical areas of low reporting rates and high homicide rates (p < 0.05). Municipalities in the North, Northeast, and Midwest of Brazil represented 29% of all reports of violence and 58% of homicides. The majority of these municipalities were concentrated in low reporting rates (≤ 0.8/10,000) and high homicide rates (≥ 13.7/100,000); and 31.4% of municipalities with high homicide rate reported zero cases. Reports of violence and homicide rates showed a negative spatial correlation (I<20 = -0.083; Iwomen20-59 = -0.023; I≥60 = -0.086; Itotal = -0.085), showing that nearby places have inverse values. Critical municipalities for underreporting of violence reach 16% of < 20 years, 12% of women, 23% of the elderly, and 18% in total. The low reporting in seriously violent areas provides evidence of underreporting. The findings can provide management with tools for initiatives to improve violence surveillance and access to the protection network.

PMID:41538613 | DOI:10.1590/1413-812320253012.08432024