Physical aggression and social class

Considering the increase of violence and the scarcity of informations about the relation between social class and victimization by physical aggression, a study was conducted to investigate this association. A hospital-based case-control study. Cases and controls were recruited at a hospital, first-a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Revista de saúde pública 1999-04, Vol.33 (2), p.180
Main Authors: Gianini, R J, Litvoc, J, Eluf Neto, J
Format: Article
Language:Portuguese
Subjects:
Adult
Aggression
Alcoholism
Brazil
Case-Control Studies
Continental Population Groups
Domestic Violence
Female
Humans
Male
Marital Status
Smoking
Social Class
Substance-Related Disorders
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Summary:Considering the increase of violence and the scarcity of informations about the relation between social class and victimization by physical aggression, a study was conducted to investigate this association. A hospital-based case-control study. Cases and controls were recruited at a hospital, first-aid clinic, from 1/10/93 to 19/1/95. The study included 191 cases and 222 controls selected from among patients with non-violent clinical-surgical complaints, frequency-matched to cases by sex and age. Using a standardized questionnaire applied by trained interviewers, information obtained included social class, skin color, marital status, smoking habits, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use. Adjusting for sex and age, the risk of victimization by physical aggression was significantly higher for the subproletariat, Odds Ratio (OR) 4.20, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) 1.99-8.84; single (OR = 2.10) or informal union (OR = 2.62) as marital status (reference group = married); smokers of more than 10 cigarettes/day (OR = 2.75); alcohol consumption (OR = 2.08 for < or = 240 grams/week and OR = 24.05 for > 240 grams/week); and illicit drug users (OR = 3.07). After adjusting for all factors studied a significant risk remained for the subproletariat (OR = 3.28, 95% CI 1.42-7.59); single as marital status (OR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.09-3.88); and alcohol consumption (OR = 2.01, 95% IC 1.07-3.77 for < or = 240 and OR = 15.93, 95% CI 5.09-49.8 for > 240 grams/week) Social class is an important factor in the phenomenon of victimization by physical aggression, with the subproletariat deserving special attention in the strategies of intervention regarding this problem.
ISSN:0034-8910
DOI:10.1590/S0034-89101999000200010