The aim of the present study was to analyze the spatial pattern of cases of maxillofacial injuries caused by interpersonal violence, based on the location of the victim’s residence, and to investigate the existence of conditions of socio-spatial vulnerability in these areas. This is a cross-sectional study, using the data of victims attended in three emergency hospitals in Belo Horizonte-Brazil between January 2008 and December 2010. Based on the process of spatial signature, the socio-spatial condition of the victims was identified according to data from census tracts. The spatial distribution trends of the addresses of victims were analyzed using Kernel maps and Ripley’s K function. Multicriteria analysis was used to analyze the territorial insertion of victims, using a combination of variables to obtain the degree of socio-spatial vulnerability. The residences of the victims were distributed in an aggregated manner in urban areas, with a confidence level of 99%. The highest densities were found in areas of unfavorable socioeconomic conditions and, to a lesser extent, areas with worse residential and neighborhood infrastructure. Spatial clusters of households formed in slums with a significant level of socio-spatial vulnerability. Explanations of the living conditions in segregated urban areas and analysis of the concentration of more vulnerable populations should be a priority in the development of public health and safety policies.

Traumatismos maxilofaciais como marcadores de violência urbana: uma análise comparativa entre gêneros Maxillofacial injuries as markers of urban violence: a comparative analysis between the genders

Traumatismos maxilofaciais como marcadores de violência urbana: uma análise comparativa entre gêneros Maxillofacial injuries as markers of urban violence: a comparative analysis between the genders

Os traumas maxilofaciais decorrentes da violência contra crianças e adolescentes impactam suas vidas, física e psiquicamente, pelas deformidades que podem provocar e pela exposição da lesão na face das vítimas. O objetivo deste trabalho é identificar a prevalência dos traumas maxilofaciais em crianças e adolescentes decorrentes da violência urbana em Belo Horizonte- Brasil. O estudo foi conduzido no Hospital Municipal Odilon Behrens, único hospital municipal de referência nesse tipo de atendimento em Belo Horizonte. Coletaram-se os registros de vítimas atendidas de janeiro a dezembro de 2007. O principal evento de violência sofrido entre crianças e adolescentes foi agressão física, 44,2% e 64,7%, respectivamente. Entre as crianças, o tipo de trauma mais comum foi o trauma dentoalveolar (53,8%), e entre os adolescentes, trauma de tecidos moles (47,5%). O maior número de ocorrências se deu no período noturno: crianças (84,6%) e adolescentes (74,8%). O gênero mais vitimado foi o masculino, crianças (63,5%) e adolescentes (68,3%). Estratégias apropriadas para identificação do evento de violência e do agressor são necessários para que melhor sejam planejados mecanismos de proteção da criança e do adolescente, uma vez que a violência sofrida por crianças e adolescentes no Brasil, considerando a complexidade dessa fase da vida, assume um quadro sombrio, desconstruindo o desenvolvimento, a sociabilidade e comprometendo a visão das vítimas sobre si mesmas e sobre o mundo que as cercam.

The study investigated the spatial pattern of cases of maxillofacial injury resulting from firearm aggression among teenagers and young adults and analyzed the comparison of income differentials in these areas based on the residence of the victims. This is a cross-sectional study with data from victims attended in three hospitals in Belo Horizonte, State of Minas Gerais, from January 2008 to December 2010. The addresses of the victims were georeferenced by geocoding. Randomness and point density trends were analyzed using Ripley's K function and Kernel maps. The spatial interaction between the homes of adolescents and young adults was verified through the K12 function. Records of 218 cases of assault with a male predominance (89.9%) and young adults (70.6%) were found. Household clusters were distributed on an aggregate basis in the urban space with a confidence level of 99% and similar spatial aggregation levels. The hotspots converged on 7 shantytowns or neighboring regions with higher income population revealing spread of events. Hotspots focused on slums with a history of crimes linked to drug trafficking. The incorporation of space in the dynamics of events showed that the economic condition in isolation did not limit victimization.