TRENDS IN REPORTS OF INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE AGAINST TRANS PEOPLE IN BRAZIL, 2015 - 2021

Abstract

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health problem with profound impacts, especially on vulnerable populations, such as transgender and transsexual people. Reporting these cases is crucial to understanding their magnitude and implementing effective policies, but underreporting and invisibility in information systems persist, highlighting gaps in the collection of gender- and identity-sensitive data. Intersectional approaches are urgently needed to consider the multiple dimensions of vulnerability, promoting visibility and combating IPV on a global scale. Objective: This research aims to analyze the trend in reporting rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) against transgender people in different regions of Brazil between 2015 and 2021. Methods: Data were collected from the Notifiable Diseases Information System, considering gender identity and sexual orientation of transgender people aged between 20 and 59 years. Annual rates were calculated and analyzed with linear regression, using Stata 14.0, and the Prais-Winsten method was used to analyze trends in notification rates. Results: A total of 3,384 cases were documented during this period, with variable annual counts, being 717 in 2015; 910 in 2016; 770 in 2017; 157 in 2018; 147 in 2019; 140 in 2020 and 543 in 2021. The distribution by geographic regions revealed the Southeast as the region with the highest prevalence of reported notifications (1,756), followed by the Northeast (759), South (415), Central-West (256) and North with (198). The most expressive notification rate occurred in the Northeast in 2016, with 3.2 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The percentage variation in violence reporting decreased by 52.05% overall, with significant reductions observed in the South (69.28%) and the Midwest (61.98%). Regarding the time series analysis, all five regions presented stationary IPV reporting rates during this period. Conclusion: It is possible to conclude that, although IPV reporting rates against transgender people in the five regions of Brazil showed a stationary trend, there are regional discrepancies in the occurrence of cases, highlighting the need for adaptation and better understanding of the complexity of the issue that requires holistic approaches and inclusive public policies for the prevention and protection of this population segment.