Occurrence of violence in the elderly and its associated factors.

OBJECTIVE

to analyze the occurrence of violence in the elderly and its associated factors in the city of Betim, Minas Gerais.

METHOD: cross-sectional study constituted by a population survey conducted through structured interviews. The sample was stratified by clusters and included 178 elderly people at the end. Data were analyzed by the chi-square test and was performed a Correspondence Analysis.

RESULTS

The most prevalent forms of violence were: lack of access to social rights (31%), verbal violence (22%), moral/psychological (19%), lack of care (16%), physical violence (6%), sexual (3%) and discrimination (3%). Women suffered more abuse than men and violence had greater association with the degree of depressive symptoms.

CONCLUSION

our research has direct implication for the sectors interested in coping with violence in the elderly, especially for nurses, because it shows violence is part of a cycle with characteristic associated factors that conforms a model nested mainly in the family relationship.