Correspondence analysis: a method for classifying similar patterns of violence against women.
Violence against women has received relatively little debate in society. It includes physical, psychological, and sexual abuse that jeopardizes the victim's health. Multivariate correspondence analysis and cluster analysis were applied to crimes reported to the Integrated Women's Aid Center in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to investigate associations between injury and define criteria for classifying the aggressions. Three groups of abuse were identified, differing according to the nature (physical, psychological, or sexual) and severity of the crimes. Less serious crimes consisted of threats and moderate physical injuries. The intermediate severity group included serious physical assault and threats. More serious crimes included death threats, rape, and sexual assault. The method thus allowed classification of the crimes in three groups according to severity.
Centro de Informação Científica e Tecnológica, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Jurema Corrêa da
JC
Mota
Ana Gloria Godoi
AG
Vasconcelos
Simone Gonçalves de
SG
Assis
D000374:Aggression / Q000145:classification; D018585:Battered Women / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002965:Classification / Q000379:methods; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology; D016387:Women's Health; D014932:Women's Health Services; D014947:Wounds and Injuries