Reported Violence Against the Transgender Individuals in Brazil: An Analysis of SINAN Data (2015–2023)

Abstract Book of the 5th International Conference on LGBT studies

Year: 2026

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Reported Violence Against the Transgender Individuals in Brazil: An Analysis of SINAN Data (2015–2023)

Gilberto da Cruz Leal, José Nildo de Barros Silva Júnior, Quézia Rosa Ferreira, Pedro Fredemir Palha, Inês Fronteira

ABSTRACT:

Violence against transgender individuals represents a serious public health problem. Over the past 15 years, Brazil has consistently ranked first worldwide in the number of murders of transgender people. This study analyzed reported cases of violence against transgender individuals in Brazil from 2015 to 2023 using data from the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). During this period, 45,715 notifications were recorded. The mean age was 30.3 years (median 27), with a consistent predominance of cases among individuals aged 19–29 years. São Paulo had the highest number of reports, with an increase from 661 cases in 2015 to 3,191 in 2023, representing a 382.8% increase and highlighting the growing magnitude of reported violence. Most notifications involved individuals self-identified as mixed-race (20,371; 44.6%) or white (17,557; 38.4%). Transgender women accounted for the majority of cases, increasing from 2,180 notifications in 2015 to 5,551 in 2023. Lower educational attainment predominated; however, from 2022 onward, individuals with completed high school surpassed those with incomplete elementary education. The progressive increase in notifications may reflect both the persistence of structural violence against transgender people and improvements in health-system sensitivity and reporting practices. Nevertheless, violence remains alarmingly high, particularly among young transgender women, highlighting the urgent need to strengthen public policies and expand health-system responses.

Keywords: Health Services; Transgender Persons; Violence