[Prevalence of intimate partner physical violence in men and women from Florianópolis, Santa Catarina State, Brazil: a population-based study].

This study investigated the association between gender and intimate partner physical violence. A random cluster sample was chosen as the baseline cohort population in a cross-sectional design. Lifetime prevalence rates were as follows: any physical violence (17%), moderate physical violence (16.6%), and severe physical violence (7.3%). There were no significant differences between genders in moderate physical violence, but women were more likely to suffer severe abuse. Logistic regression was used to identify associations between violence and gender, adjusting for exploratory variables. Women that were older, widowed/separated, had less schooling or lower income, and African-descendants were all more likely to have suffered intimate partner violence. Prevalence of severe physical violence experienced by men only changed significantly according to marital status. Alcohol abuse by women increased the odds of suffering physical violence.