Mortalidade por homicídios dolosos no município de João Pessoa, Paraíba: Caracterização e distribuição espacial

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Among the various forms of violence expression, homicide constitutes the one with the largest impact, because it infringes on the life of the human being, and is therefore, considered the main indicator of violence in a society. It affects the population in an unequal way and the knowledge of its patterns and causes are fundamental for the implementation of preventive strategies. OBJECTIVE: To characterize violence through murder homicide events and their associated factors, and to analyze the pattern of spatial distribution of victims' homes of João Pessoa, Paraíba. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, ecological, and documentary study was carried out in the city of João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil, by means of an analysis of investigations of victims of intentional homicide in 2015, registered by the Crime Victims Unit (Homicide). Data on the characteristics of victims and homicides were analyzed using descriptive statistics (absolute and relative frequency) and inferential statistics (Chi-Squared and Robust Poisson Regression). The level of significance was 95%. Through the Kernel estimation, the spatial distribution pattern of homicides of homicide victims in the municipality was identified. The subnormal clusters layer was superimposed on the spatial distribution map of the victims' homes, and the spatial relationship between the high intensity areas of homicides and those of the subnormal clusters in the districts of the municipality was visually verified. The group of neighborhoods classified as having high homicide intensity was compared, in terms of socioeconomic characteristics, with those that did not present an occurrence and with the municipality average. RESULTS: 424 homicides were registered, of which 93.2% were men, 70.5% were single, 65.9% were between 13 and 29 years of age, 67.5% were less than seven years of study and 97.2% non-white. Previous history of reclusion was found in 29% of the victims and 57.1% had a history of involvement with drugs. There was a significant association between involvement with illicit drugs with gender (p = 0.037), age (p = 0.002) and history of reclusion (p = 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, there was association with age (p <0.001, PR = 0.832 and CI from 0.761 to 0.910) and history of reclusion (p <0.001, PR = 1.447 and CI from 1.327 to 1.577). There were 369 homicide victims resided in the municipality, however, it was possible to georeferencing 280 residences. Clusters of residences are seen in some districts of the municipality, classified as high intensity event areas, or hot spots (Hot Spot). It was generally perceived that the spatial relationship between these areas was positive with the presence of subnormal clusters, and the group of neighborhoods that presented hot areas represented the one with the worst socioeconomic conditions. FINAL CONSIDERATIONS: Deaths from homicides are predominantly male, young, non-white, low schooling, victimized by firearms and involved with illicit drugs and crime. The study allowed the identification of neighborhoods that deserve attention regarding the control and prevention of mortality due to murder homicides in the municipality, as well as the improvement of the living conditions of the population.