Abuso e violência contra pessoas idosas e sua relação com fragilidade, sintomas depressivos e estado nutricional: estudo transversal realizado na Atenção Primária à Saúde de uma região urbana do Brasil

Abstract

Violence against older adults is a serious violation of human rights, directly impacting their dignity and quality of life. Factors such as frailty, depressive symptoms, and compromised nutritional status can intensify this vulnerability, especially in contexts of social inequality. Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a strategic role in the early identification and intervention in cases of violence, requiring actions that integrate different dimensions of health. This study aimed to investigate whether there is an association between the risk of violence and aspects such as frailty, presence of depressive symptoms, and nutritional impairment in older adults assisted by PHC in the municipalities of Santa Cruz and Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. This is a cross-sectional study, with 323 participants, conducted in June 2023 and in March 2024. Validated instruments were used: H-S/EAST, CTS-1, EFS, GDS-15, MNA, and the Older Adult Health Booklet. Analyses included association tests, correlation, and logistic regression. Among the older adults assessed, 46.1% presented a risk of abuse and violence. Frailty, depressive symptoms, and altered nutritional status were significantly associated with the risk of violence. Logistic regression identified depressed mood and functional impairment as predictors of the risk. The results reinforce the importance of screening physical and emotional aspects in PHC, aiming at the prevention of violence and the protection of older adults. Interdisciplinary strategies that consider the complexity of aging are essential to promote comprehensive care and reduce vulnerabilities.