Violence is the leading cause of youth death in Brazil. Although the highest rates of violence occur across Latin America, the Caribbean and sub-Saharan Africa, nearly all longitudinal studies of violence were done in high-income countries. To effectively plan early prevention programmes, it is critical to test whether developmental determinants of violence are similar across such different social contexts, in longitudinal studies.
In this lunchtime seminar by the Violence Research Group (VRG), Professor Joseph Murray will look at data the four Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Studies, some of the longest running and largest longitudinal studies conducted in developing countries. The Birth Cohort Studies have followed the entire population of children born in Pelotas city, in 1982, 1993, 2004, and 2015, in interviews, medical exams, and records. Altogether, these four, well-matched, prospective birth cohorts include some 20,000 individuals and their families. The youngest cohort also includes a nested randomised trial evaluating two parenting programmes for the prevention of violence.
Professor Murray will be provide an overview on determinants of aggression and violence in these studies and consider whether “classic” determinants of violence identified in other countries replicate in this Brazilian setting.
Speaker Biography
Joseph Murray is a full professor at the Postgraduate Programme in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas in Brazil, and director of the Human Development and Violence Research Centre (DOVE). His research aims to understand how bio-psycho-social factors influence behaviour and psychosocial development through the life-course. In particular, he studies life-course determinants and prevention of conduct disorder and violence. Professor Murray currently holds an Investigator Award (2018-2025) from the Welcome Trust to support collecting and analysing new data in four birth cohort studies following 20,000 families and children in Brazil.
When: 12pm-1pm, 2nd March 2021
Where: This event will be held on Zoom. To register, follow this link. Once you have registered, you will be sent the link and passcode to access the call.
Contact: [email protected]