Violence against children and adolescents in Manaus, Amazonas State, Brazil: A descriptive study of cases and evaluation of notification sheet completeness, 2009-2016

Abstract

Objective: to describe cases of violence against children and adolescents and completeness of notification forms registered on the Notifiable Health Conditions Information System (Sinan), Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil, 2009-2016. Methods: this was a descriptive study based on 38 fields of the notification form held on the information system; analysis of completeness was based on the criteria proposed by the Ministry of Health. Results: 69.3% of the 10,333 reported cases occurred among female children, and parents and step-parents were the perpetrators in 43.0% of cases; among adolescents, about 1/4 (24.9%) of cases were committed by friends/acquaintances; sexual violence was the most reported type of violence in both groups; field completeness ranged from 15.1% (occupation) to 100.0% (several fields). Conclusion: in contrast to the national scenario, sexual violence was the most reported form of violence in Manaus, indicating that other types of violence are underestimated; data quality points to the need for Sinan improvement in Manaus.