Socio-demographic, family context and behavioral variables associated with intrafamily physical violence in PeNSE

Abstract The aim was to evaluate the magnitude of population groups at greater risk of intrafamily physical violence (IPV) among 9th grade students. Data from the Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar (PeNSE) [National School Health Survey] was used in a cross-sectional school-based study, whose sampling took place in three stages: selection and analysis of municipalities, schools and school classes. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted, considering the sample weights. Information referring to 60,905, 108,793 and 102,072 students were examined. This identified IPV prevalences of 9.5%, 10.9% and 14.5% for each year analyzed, respectively. After adjustment, it was found that IPV victimization was higher among female students who self-declared black, brown, yellow or indigenous, were aged 15 and 16, and whose mothers had a lower level of education. It was observed that the occurrence of IPV increased in the study period, signaling the need for specialized policies, programs and services to turn attention toward the most vulnerable population segments. The implementation of preventive strategies in the school context, with emphasis on family dynamics, may be a vector for reducing the number of IPV episodes, consolidating the family as a social system contributing to breaking the cycle of violence.