Gender violence: a comparison of mortality from aggression against women who have and have not previously reported violence

Violence against women is an important public health problem in Brazil and in the world. The objective of the present study was to describe the profile of mortality due to aggression against women, and analyze whether the victims of reported violence are more likely to die from aggression than the general female population. This is a descriptive study of mortality due to aggression against women, from database linkage. The databases used for linkage were SINAN Brazil's Notifiable Diseases Information System (reports of violence against women) (2011 - 2015), and SIM, the Mortality Information System (women dying as a result of aggression) (2011 - 2016). The risk of death due to aggression among women previously reporting violence is higher than in the general female population, thus revealing a situation of vulnerability. Black women with lower schooling are the main victims of violence and homicides. The large number of women killed by aggression and repeated violence reveal the fragility of the care and protection networks in providing comprehensive, qualified and timely care for victims.