Objective:

to analyze morbidity and mortality resulting from violence and abuse against elderly in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) (Brazil), in the period 2000-2010, and study its spatial distribution.

Methodology:

eco-friendly study that uses Moran Local-LiSA index, with value of p < 0.05, considered for statistical significance. In morbidity and mortality, separated by sex, in elderly by attacks in RN, the data were collected by DATASUS. The population under study was the group of elderly residents in the State of RN who died or were interned because of violence or abuse in the analyzed period.

Results:

mortality and morbidity by assaults on RN in the elderly population between 2000 and 2010 are higher in males (90 %) than in females (85 %). In mortality geospa-tial analysis it was highlighted that there is higher concentration of cases of females in the East and Central areas of the State, and males in the West and Agreste areas. Data on morbidity indicate concentration in the East and Agreste regions for women and in the East, West and Central regions for men. There was no statistical significance based on a small number of occurrences, which may indicate sub-notifications.

Conclusion:

the identification of unfavorable areas indicates the need to investigate the existence of non-notified cases of violence against elderly people, in order to get data that may support the creation of joint strategies of confrontation to those violations, involving health, social assistance, and civil society.

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