Characterization, frequencies and comparison of child abuse reporting rates: a comparative study, Brazil, 2011-2021

To describe reported cases of child abuse that occurred from 2011 to 2021 in Brazil and to compare the annual reporting rates of physical, psychological and sexual violence, and neglect/abandonment by sex and age group.

Data on all cases of violence against children reported on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System each year were analyzed. The proportions of reported cases for each type of violence were calculated according to age group (0-4 years and 5-9 years) and sex. The cases were characterized according to occurrence, victim and perpetrator, also stratified by age group and sex. Annual reporting rates (per 100,000) were obtained by sex and age group. Comparison of occurrence by sex and age group was made by obtaining the ratio between rates each year.

Most of the 401,058 reports identified were of victims aged 0-4 years (63.5%), cases occurring at home (84.9%) and with the mother (52.5%) and the father (34.6%) as the most frequent perpetrators. Throughout the period, the highest reporting rates were for neglect/abandonment of children of both sexes aged 0-4 years. Psychological and sexual violence were approximately two and 3.5 times, respectively, more frequently reported among girls in both age groups.

Neglect/abandonment is the type of violence most reported by health professionals in the period studied and most frequently victimizes younger children, regardless of sex. Girls suffer sexual and psychological violence more than boys.