Association between racial residential segregation and homicide mortality in municipalities in Minas Gerais, Brazil

Abstract This article aims to evaluate the association between racial residential segregation and homicide mortality in the state of Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil. We conducted an ecological study in which the units of analysis were municipalities in MG. The outcome was homicide deaths between 2008 and 2012 and the exposure variable was residential segregation measured using the racial interaction index, calculated using data from the 2010 Demographic Census. The covariables were per capita family income and the Gini index. The variables were presented in tables and thematic maps and associations were measured using Bayesian hierarchical models. The results of the model adjusted for per capita family income showed a negative association between the racial interaction index and homicide mortality (coefficient=-1.787; 95%CI=-2.459; -1.119). Homicide mortality was lower in municipalities with higher levels of racial interaction.

摘要 本研究旨在评估巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州（Minas Gerais，缩写MG）种族居住隔离（residential segregation）与凶杀死亡率之间的关联。我们开展了一项生态学研究（ecological study），以该州各市级行政单元作为分析单位。结局指标为2008至2012年的凶杀死亡病例，暴露变量为采用2010年全国人口普查数据计算得到的种族互动指数（racial interaction index）所衡量的居住隔离程度。协变量包括人均家庭收入与基尼系数（Gini Index）。所有研究变量均以表格与专题地图（thematic maps）呈现，关联分析通过贝叶斯分层模型（Bayesian hierarchical models）开展。经人均家庭收入调整的模型结果显示，种族互动指数与凶杀死亡率呈负相关（系数=-1.787；95%置信区间CI=-2.459；-1.119）。种族互动水平更高的市级行政单元，其凶杀死亡率更低。