Violence Against Lesbian,Gay,and Bisexual Older Adults: Findings From the Brazilian Health System

Abstract

The primary objective of this research was to describe the prevalence of violence against older adults according to sexual orientation as documented in the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) in Brazil. SINAN is a national database that compiles violence-related notifications reported by healthcare services. This ecological study analyzed aggregated data at the population level, focusing on violence notifications involving individuals aged 50 and above from 2017 to 2021. The data underwent descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses, adhering to a significance level of 5%. The completeness percentage of the sexual orientation variable ranged from 70% to 72%. Our analysis detected noteworthy disparities in the distribution of violence notifications based on sexual orientation. Specifically, lesbians had the highest incidence rates of physical violence compared to heterosexual and bisexual women. In a broader context, women demonstrated a higher susceptibility to psychological violence, with bisexual women experiencing a notably elevated prevalence (41.67%). Reports of physical and psychological violence differed based on contextual variables, such as race, education level, and geographic region. We hereby conclude that the disparities found in violence notifications underscore a troubling situation faced by older adults within the LGB community, with a particular emphasis on the challenges encountered by bisexual individuals. Improving cultural competence in health systems is essential to enhancing data collection and understanding the complexities of violence against this population.