Delving into the delays: a cross-sectional study on healthcare-seeking following episodes of violence against older adults in Brazil, 2016–2022

BACKGROUND: Delaying healthcare after episodes of violence can allow hidden injuries and trauma in older adults to worsen. It increases the risk of complications, prolonged recovery, and reduced functional independence. Such delays also heighten emotional distress, potentially leading to anxiety, depression, or long-term psychological harm. OBJECTIVE: To investigate associated factors for delayed healthcare-seeking among older adults victims of violence in Brazil, from 2016 to 2022. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using 154,991 reported cases of violence against individuals aged 60 years and older, extracted from Brazil's national Notifiable Diseases Information System. Delay was defined as notification to health authorities occurring ≥ 24 h after the episode (used as a proxy for delayed healthcare-seeking and system responsiveness). Multivariate logistic and spatial cluster analysis were applied to assess associated factors and regional patterns. RESULTS: Nearly half of the cases involved delayed healthcare-seeking. Increased likelihood of delay was associated with being female, Indigenous, mixed-race, having behavioral or mental disorders, experiencing sexual or psychological violence, episodes involving multiple perpetrators, and those occurring at night or on weekends. In contrast, delays were less likely among individuals with physical or intellectual disabilities, those identifying as bisexual, and cases involving physical violence or self-harm. Spatial analysis revealed significant geographic disparities, with hotspots of delay concentrated in the North and Northeast regions. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed access to healthcare among older victims of violence is widespread and shaped by intersecting demographic, psychosocial, and structural vulnerabilities. Strengthening community-based care, improving health system responsiveness, and addressing systemic inequities are essential to ensuring timely support for this at-risk population.