Unraveling the reality of interpersonal violence against children and adolescents in Brazil: a systematic review.

This study aimed to review scientific publications on reports of violence against children and adolescents in Brazil from 2018 to 2022 based on a systematic literature review following the PRISMA guidelines. Selection encompassed quantitative and qualitative studies published in Portuguese, English, and Spanish from the PubMed Central, LILACS, and SciELO databases. Two trilingual reviewers analyzed the studies according to the eligibility criteria, and the quality of the studies was assessed using the Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The 21 eligible studies were then analyzed, and the social determinants of health listed were grouped into categories (territory, race/ethnicity, gender, age, type of violence, drugs, perpetrator, and where the act occurred) to create a narrative synthesis about each one. The results show worrisome patterns of ethnic-racial inequalities regarding violence, pointing towards a greater vulnerability of the black population. Analyses based on gender, age, and type of violence also reveal a particular vulnerability of girls, especially regarding sexual violence. The perpetrators were mainly identified as the victims' fathers and mothers, highlighting the relevance of the family setting in enabling violent acts and showing the need for interventions focused on this context. The underreporting of cases indicates the importance of improving report mechanisms and raising community awareness to ensure that the reality of violence against children and adolescents is presented accurately.