Citation

Peres MF, Cardia N, de Mesquita Neto P, dos Santos PC, Adorno S. Rev. Panam. Salud Publica 2008; 23(4): 268-276.

Vernacular Title

Homicidios, desenvolvimento socioeconomico e violencia policial no Municipio de

Affiliation

Universidade de Sao Paulo, Nucleo de Estudos da Violencia, Sao Paulo, Brasil.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2008, Organizacion Panamericana de la Salud (PAHO))

DOI

unavailable

PMID

18505608

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association between police violence and homicide mortality rates taking into consideration the effect of contextual variables. METHODS: This was an environmental, cross-sectional study that included the 96 census districts in the City of Sao Paulo. The association between the variables was analyzed using Spearman's rank correlation and simple and multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: Univariate analysis revealed a strong and significant association between homicide mortality coefficients and all the indicators of socioeconomic development and police violence. After controlling for potential confounding factors, the association between police violence and homicide mortality coefficients remained strong and significant. This significance was lost only after control for the size of the resident population. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that police action that violates basic human rights is not the right answer to urban violence. The combination of homicides from interpersonal violence and deaths from police violence results in negative socialization and promotes further violence.

Language: pt