Violence, Structural Racism, and Their Relation to Health Outcomes of Black Brazilian Youth

Abstract

In this chapter, we review epidemiological data on the exposure to urban violence and structural racism suffered by black Brazilian youth and how they relate to their health outcomes. Exploring evidence from large national surveys and routine data, we analyze how racism in Brazil acts as a structural factor affecting institutional cultures, society’s implicit organization rules, and therefore worsening health inequities. We explore data on youth homicides, non-lethal violence, and access to health services showing how black youth are at greater risk than other ethnic groups, exposed to several factors that by affecting this specific developmental period can have long-lasting effects. Through the life course perspective, combined with insights from epidemiology, we reflect on the importance of research on such matters regarding black youth in Brazil and in favor of integrating developmental psychology and public health tools.