Rape Crimes in the Brazilian Federal District: A Four-Year Analysis of Vulnerabilities and Victimization Pattern

Rape is a multidimensional public health and human rights concern with profound and lasting effects. This census-based, cross-sectional study examined 3,375 police-reported cases of rape crimes in the Brazilian Federal District (2018–2021), assessing victim profiles, perpetrator characteristics, contextual factors, and spatial distribution. Vulnerable victims, predominantly children under 14 years (82.1%), comprised 67.3% of cases. Most events occurred indoors (81.0%) and were perpetrated by family members or acquaintances (83.5%). Regions with higher rape crimes rates generally exhibited lower human development indices. Notably, 17.8% of cases were classified as continued crimes, with over half persisting for over a year. Significant differences emerged between vulnerable and non-vulnerable victims across case characteristics. Through principal component analysis, five distinct patterns of rape crimes were identified: ( i ) family abuse of children in indoor settings; ( ii ) acquaintance abuse without weapon use; ( iii ) intimate partner rape among adults; ( iv ) nighttime vulnerability associated with weekends, psychoactive substances use, and severe acts; and ( v ) socioeconomic vulnerability linked to low educational status and daytime occurrences. These findings highlight the complexity of rape crimes dynamics and underscore the need for tailored, multisectoral strategies – integrating education, healthcare, social assistance, public security, and justice – to prevent and address sexual violence effectively. Further research and coordinated policy implementation remain essential to improving outcomes for victims.