Spatial distribution of violence rates against pregnant women in Brazil in 2023

Rev Cuid. 2026 Aug 21;17(2):e5584. doi: 10.15649/cuidarte.5584. eCollection 2026 May-Aug.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Violence against pregnant women is a multifactorial public health problem that can worsen maternal and fetal health, making its analysis relevant for understanding the phenomenon.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the spatial distribution of notification rates of violence against pregnant women in Brazil.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional ecological study of notification rates of violence against pregnant women residing in Brazil in 2023, obtained from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, with data extracted in March 2025. The spatial distribution of notification rates of violence against pregnant women was analyzed according to socioeconomic indicators (race/skin color, age group, and educational level). Global and Local Moran’s Indexes were used for spatial analysis, considering immediate regions as units of analysis.

RESULTS: The notification rate of violence against pregnant women in Brazil was 7.82 per 1,000 live births (19,851 notifications). The states of Amazonas, Roraima, Acre, Mato Grosso do Sul, and Paraná stood out with high rates. Higher occurrence was observed among women of mixed-race (brown), Asian, and Indigenous race/skin color, as well as among those under 20 years of age and with low educational attainment.

DISCUSSION: Brazil is marked by regional disparities, which are reflected in indicators of violence against pregnant women.

CONCLUSION: Violence against pregnant women is present throughout the country, affecting all race/skin color groups, age groups, and educational levels. However, variations and specificities among regions were identified. Thus, the data obtained represent a relevant source of information and may support the planning and implementation of interventions.

PMID:42755827 | PMC:PMC13581945 | DOI:10.15649/cuidarte.5584