Self-rated health and perceived violence in the neighborhood is heterogeneous between young women and men

Urban violence is one of the major causes of death and hospitalization among young adults (18-29 years) in several countries [1]. There were an estimated 475,000 deaths in 2012 as a result of homicide on the world. Sixty percent of these deaths occurred among males aged 15–44 years, making homicide the third leading cause of death for this population group [1]. Within low- and middle income countries, the highest estimated rate of homicide occurs in the Region of the Americas, with 28.5 homicides per 100,000 population, followed by the African Region with a rate of 10.9 homicides per 100,000 population [1]. Fatal violence is not evenly distributed among sex and age groups. The highest estimated rate of homicide in the world is found among males aged 15–29 years (18.2 per 100,000) [1].

In Brazil, the exposure to violence reveals a negative experience that has already affected an entire generation of young people: a recent survey by the Brazil Health Department indicated that 51.0% of young adults aged 18–29 years across all states and social strata in small, medium, and large cities have lost a close person in a violent way [2]. Nevertheless, deaths are only a fraction of the health and social burden arising from violence. In a nationally representative study of violence-related injury cases presenting at emergency departments during a 1-month period in Brazil, there were 4835 cases of violence related injury, of which 91% were victims of interpersonal violence and 9% were the result of self-directed violence. More than half of the victims (55%) were also young, aged 10–29 years [1].

Perceived urban violence has been generally defined as a negative emotional reaction to crime and includes reactions or attitudes such as avoiding public places, certain streets, going out at night, or engaging in leisure or sport activities in the neighborhood [3–5]. Structural characteristics such as physical and social disorder, low degree of social integration, urban segregation, and high crime rates in the neighborhood raise fear and anxiety levels among residents of certain urban areas leading to greater perceived violence and worse self-rated health (SRH) [3, 4].

SRH refers to the general perception of an individual’s own health and is one of the indicators most commonly used to measure the health of population groups in epidemiological studies [6–8]. Self-rating of health results from a cognitive process involving objective, subjective, and contextual aspects, i.e., even though it is an individual’s response, it is based on his/her physical, social, and cultural environment [6, 9]. Self-rated health has been identified by the American Institute of Medicine as one of the 20 key indicators to measure health in population-based studies [10]. In cohort studies, SRH is a strong predictor of morbidity and mortality [7, 8, 11].

Sex is one of several well-established independent determinants of SRH. In fact, women usually report worse SRH than men, especially at younger ages [12]. Consistently, a study conducted in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil in 2013 evaluated the relationship between the physical and social environment and SRH in 4048 adults 18 years and older from a large urban center and showed that women were 38.0% more likely than men to rate their health as poor [12].

Nevertheless, knowledge about SRH in young adults (18–29 years) is still limited and to better understand the determinants of SRH in young adults it is important to examine their historical, socioeconomic and spatial context.

Diez-Roux and Mair in extensive literature review of neighborhood health proposes a theoretical model that describes how the physical and social characteristics of the neighborhood interrelate and affect people’s health [13]. Figure 1 summarizes how individual characteristics, behavioral mediators and stress also influence and are influenced by the physical environment and social aspects of neighborhood modifying health and SRH [13].

A study conducted in Illinois, USA, in 1995, which evaluated 2482 adults, found that residents of poor neighborhoods reported worse self-rated health, worse functional performance, and more chronic illnesses than neighborhood residents with greater advantages [14]. This association was mediated by the perception of physical disorganization such as abandoned buildings, noise, graffiti, vandalism, filth, disrepair and greater perception of fear in the neighborhood [14].

A survey made in 2004 with 1504 adults (18 years and over) were residing in Texas found that perceptions of neighborhood disorder may increase the risk of obesity by elevating levels of psychological distress, which, in turn, leads to chronic activation of the physiological stress response [15]. The citizens perceived the neighborhood as an unsafe, dirty and noisy place raised the levels of anxiety and depression of the residents and was associated with poorer quality in diet and obesity [15]. In this study not being satisfied with weight, not eating properly and not performing physical activities was also associated with worse self-rated health in young adults of both sexes.

A multi-center study conducted in six low- and middle-income countries consistently demonstrated that living in impoverished neighborhoods with greater social and physical disorganization where there is greater perception of urban violence is associated with greater psychological stress and numerous sleep problems [16]. Recent studies suggest that living in neighborhoods with greater physical and social disorganization is associated with poorer physical and mental health, poor self-rated health and depression [17–19]. It is possible that sleep quality is a mediating pathway that helps to explain the association between perceived urban violence and poor health.

A national health survey conducted in Denmark in 2000 with 12,028 adults (16+ years) evaluated the associations between violence, SRH and self-reported morbidity [20]. The authors observed that men aged 16–24 years were more likely to have experienced physical violence than women of the same age (OR = 3.20, 95% CI = 2.30–4.20). Female victims of physical violence were significantly more likely to rate their health as poor (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.41–2.89) and to report anxiety (OR = 2.14, 95% CI = 1.35–3.37), depression (OR = 2.36, 95% CI = 1.55–3.60), and stomach ache (OR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.01–2.47) than female non-victims. Associations between physical violence and poor self-rated health and self-reported morbidity were statistically associates for women, but not for men [20].

A longitudinal study of 8224 U.S. youths 12 to 18 years old at baseline reported that the risk for poor SRH was 4.6 times greater among subjects who were exposed to violence (OR = 4.63, 95% CI = 3.06–6.99) [21]. Having witnessed gun violence, being threatened at school, bullied repeatedly, or a victim of crime were independently and significantly associated with poor SRH. Additionally, the prevalence of fair/poor SRH was higher among female (56.0%), low-income (32.0%), and African-American youths (39.0%) [21].

The present study aimed to determine and quantify the association between sex specific perception of violence in the neighborhood and SRH among young adults. We hypothesized that there is heterogeneity in the impact of the perception of violence on self-rated health for men and women.

This study assessed data from a population-based health survey conducted by the Belo Horizonte Urban Health Observatory (OSUBH) of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) between 2008 and 2009 in two – Barreiro and Oeste – of the nine health districts of the city. Belo Horizonte (2.513.451 inhabitants) is the capital of Minas Gerais State located in southeast Brazil and the main city of the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area (5.873.841 inhabitants) [22]. The estimated population of each district is approximately 250,000.

The study area was divided into strata according to the health vulnerability index (HVI), developed by the Belo Horizonte City Health Department. The HIV is a summary measure that estimates the inequalities in the epidemiological profile of different social groups within the census tracts. It includes the following components: sanitation, housing, education, income, and health [22].

In each HVI stratum, selection was performed using a three-stage sampling methodology: census tract, address (residence), and resident (one adult). In total, 150 tracts were selected. Within each census tract, a simple random sample of household addresses registered in the database of the Municipality of Belo Horizonte was taken. Next, one adult resident (18 years or older) was drawn using a random number table.

At the end of the sampling process, 5.436 households had been selected. After being informed about the objectives of the study, residents who were drawn were invited to participate and sign a consent form. In total, 4.048 adults were interviewed with a refusal rate of 25.0%. For this study, we selected only young adults between the ages of 18 and 29 years, representing 955 participants. All participants answered a face-to-face questionnaire administered by trained interviewers. The questionnaire was composed of six modules: household, sociodemographic factors, health, mobility, social determinants of health, lifestyle and behaviors.

Detailed information about the SBH survey methodology can be found in Camargos et al. [23] and Friche et al. [22, 24].

The study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Brazil, under protocol numbers ETCI 253/006 and ETCI 017/07.

Of the 955 participants, 54.4% were women. Among the women, 79.7% rated their health as very good/good whereas among men this classification was reported by 83.9%. The estimated urban violence score ranged from 1.21 to 4.85 (mean ± SD: 2.32 ± 0.77) for women and 1.21 to 4.65 (2.14 ± 0.70) for men. In addition, 54.8% of the participants were aged 18–24 years, 32.7% were married or living in a stable union: 38,34% of the women and 25,90% of the men.

Roughly 36.3% of respondents reported regular alcohol consumption and 34.6% of the men and 16.4% of the women reported excessive alcohol consumption (≥ three times a week or > five drinks per day). 18.4% of men and 14.3% of women were smokers.

Among women, 62.6% reported not being satisfied with their weight, 74.2% did not exercise regularly and 64.4% did not have a healthy diet. For the men whereas 48.8% were not satisfied with their weight, 44.5% were not physical active, and 70.4% did not have a healthy diet. The presence of at least one chronic disease was reported by 35.5% of respondents, of which 44,9% were women and 24,4% were men.

Over fifty (62.5%) of respondents reported residing in the same neighborhood for over 10 years, 58.8% of women and 67.0% of men (Table 1).

Men who rated their health as fair/poor/very poor more frequently smoked, were dissatisfied with their weight, did not exercise regularly, consumed fewer fruits and vegetables, and had some chronic disease compared to men who rated their health as very good/good.

Our results indicate that perceived violence in the neighborhood is associated with fair/poor/very poor SRH in young women; however, we did not find the same association for young males.

Urban violence is a phenomenon that demands a multifaceted, inter-sectorial, and interdisciplinary approach, related to individuals, groups, classes, and institutions, which in their relations employ different methods and means of coercion and annihilation of people. Living in large cities has implications for people’s lives and on the social determinants that operate through various process [13, 28].

Violence, increased neighborhood crime, and weaker social cohesion are also dynamically linked to the characteristics of the physical and social environment, increasing stress levels and changing people’s behavior, leading to worsening health and poor SRH. Thus, both physical and social environment as well as behavioral characteristics can weaken social ties and increase violence [13, 14, 16, 19].

The magnitude, nature, and impact of urban violence on health differ greatly for men and women. Violence against women has been associated with worse SRH, worse quality of life, gynecological symptoms, depression, chronic pain, post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse [28–30]. A 2006 Swedish study evaluated 34,707 women in two age groups: 18–29 years and 30–44 years, with results similar to our study, reporting an association between the risk of some form of violence in the neighborhood and worst SRH in both age groups. This study also found synergistic effect between violence and low socioeconomic status worsening the self-assessment of health [29].

Research evidence suggests that gender based violence can be concentrated at the neighborhood level, especially in disadvantaged, vulnerable urban settings. Disadvantaged urban settings can exacerbate underlying gender-based power disparities, subjecting young women to intensive harassment, pressure for early sexual activity, and a pervasive threat of sexual and physical violence [30]. Large populated neighborhoods characterized by weak social ties and low collective efficacy can also increase the risk of violence [29–31].

There are possible sociological explanations for the results observed in our study. Some studies argue that women are taught, from an early age, to take care of people and family and to be more empathetic towards community suffering, whereas men are encouraged to be aggressive and competitive [31, 32]. These differences in the socialization process predispose women to internalize their difficulties, resulting in an increased incidence of depression, anxiety, and possibly poor self-rating of health. Conversely, men exposed to community violence tend to develop aggressive behaviors and are more prone to crime [31, 32].

No association between perceived urban violence and SRH may also reflect adaptation by young men growing up exposed to neighborhood violence [32]. Some researchers suggest that male youths who are chronically exposed to community violence may become desensitized and suppress feelings of sadness or anxiety [33, 34]. Male youths may develop initial internalizing symptoms in reaction to new or unusual exposure to violence, but over time their symptoms might be expected to abate [33]. Thus, rather than concluding that young males do not experience symptoms or that they minimize their response to a violent event, it is possible that there are fundamental gender differences in the type of response [34]. It appears that moderating factors may mitigate the conditions under which violence exposure in youth leads to adverse outcomes [35].

The Belo Horizonte Health Study was not originally designed to specifically investigate young adults. Although consistent with the literature, our study had not found an association between perceived violence in the neighborhood and poor self-reported health among young men. We cannot rule out the study sample size and low power to estimate this association. However, this study is of great relevance because it was the first study to evaluate the association between sex-specific perception of violence in the neighborhood and SRH among young adults in a middle income country.

This study has several strengths. Few studies have examined the association between perceived urban violence and SRH among young adults, despite the relevance of the issue especially when violence is one of the leading causes of death among young people in many countries. Several steps were taken to avoid potential biases, including reliability assessment of the instruments used, use of standard procedures and equipment, extensive training of field personnel in addition to intensive activities with the community to encourage participation in the study. Thus, the internal validity and quality of information were ensured [24].

We showed that perceived violence in the neighborhood was associated with poor SRH in women, even after adjusting for several individual attributes. Even though the mechanisms responsible for this association have not been clearly elucidated, the results of this study indicate that public and health policies should implement interventions on the physical and social environment of the district or neighborhood that improve the perception of safety and have a positive impact on people’s health, especially women.