Analysis of reported animal abuse in Campo Magro, Paraná, Brazil / Análise de denúncias de maus-tratos aos animais no município de Campo Magro, Paraná

Animal abuse is a criminal offense in Brazil and can be dealt with by several government agencies, including municipal ones. Cases of animal abuse reported to the Department of Health Surveillance, of the Municipal Health Secretariat of Campo Magro, Paraná, Brazil, between March of 2019 and December of 2020 were analyzed to assess the most common forms of abuse and animals involved. A total of 140 complaints were received in this period; 132 were investigated, of which 81 were considered authentic. The most common form of abuse was neglect 64.2% (52/81). Cases of neglect were further classified into four types (although cases may be classified with more than one type), resulting in 106 classifications of neglect. Behavioral neglect was the most common form of neglect 33.9% (36/106). As more than one animal could be involved in each report, the 81 authentic cases involved a total of 471 animals. Dogs were the species most commonly affected 78.5% (370/471). The vast majority of animal abuse was perpetrated against adult animals. Statistically significant correlations were found between the sex and age of dogs and abuse and between species and the different forms of abuse for dogs and cats.(AU)

Os maus-tratos aos animais são considerados crime no Brasil e o atendimento desse tipo de ocorrência pode ser realizado por diferentes órgãos governamentais, incluindo os municipais. O presente trabalho analisa denúncias atendidas pelo Departamento de Vigilância em Saúde, da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Campo Magro, Paraná, Brasil, entre março de 2019 e dezembro de 2020 e avalia os tipos mais comuns de maus-tratos a animais e os animais envolvidos. Um total de 140 denúncias foram recebidas e 132 foram fiscalizadas, destas, 81 foram consideradas procedentes. A forma mais prevalente de maus-tratos foi a negligência com 64,2% (52/81). Os casos de negligência foram classificados em quatro diferentes tipos (cada caso pode ser classificado em mais de um tipo de negligência). O tipo mais frequente foi a negligência comportamental com 33,9% (36/106). Como mais de um animal podia estar envolvido em cada caso de maus-tratos, os 81 casos procedentes contabilizaram 471 animais envolvidos. A espécie canina foi a mais afetada, sendo 78,5% (370/471). A maior parte dos casos de maus-tratos foram cometidos contra animais adultos. Correlações estatísticas significativas foram encontradas entre o sexo e faixa etária dos cães em relação à ocorrência de maus-tratos e, também, entre a espécie e os diferentes tipos de maus-tratos para cães e gatos.(AU)

Caracterización del delito de lesiones a mujeres víctimas de violencia doméstica / Characterization of the crime of injuries against female victims of domestic violence

RESUMEN Introducción: la violencia contra la mujer incluye todo acto violento por razón de género, que produce o puede causar daño físico, sexual, psicológico o algún tipo de sufrimiento mediante amenazas, coerción o privaciones arbitrarias de su libertad. Objetivo: determinar los factores que incidieron en los delitos de lesiones contra la mujer como forma de violencia doméstica en la provincia de Pinar del Río. Material y métodos: se realizó una investigación observacional, descriptiva y longitudinal con 236 lesionadas que fueron entrevistadas en el Departamento Provincial de Medicina Legal, por existir una denuncia por delito de lesiones en el marco de la familia durante el período 2017-2018. La información se obtuvo mediante la aplicación de una encuesta a las víctimas y la revisión de la base de datos estadística existente en el libro de control de la actividad pericial del mencionado departamento de Pinar del Río. Resultados: la mayoría de las víctimas tenían edades comprendidas entre los 16 y los 35 años, y eran de la raza blanca y del municipio Pinar del Río. La relación con el victimario fue de pareja sexual, siendo el puñetazo el modus operandi y la conducta violenta el factor de riesgo más frecuente; se destacaron los celos como móvil del hecho. Predominaron el horario nocturno y las lesiones no graves sin necesidad de tratamiento médico. Conclusiones: la violencia doméstica constituye un problema de salud y social en la provincia pinareña, por lo que instituciones sociales, de salud y autoridades deben trabajar de conjunto para su prevención y reducción (AU).

Introduction: violence against women includes any violent act on the basis of gender, which causes or may cause physical, sexual, psychological or any other kind of suffering through threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of their freedom. Objective: to determine the factors that affected the crimes of injury against women as a form of domestic violence in the province of Pinar del Río. Materials and methods: an observational, descriptive and longitudinal investigation was conducted with 236 injured women that were interviewed in the Provincial Department of Legal Medicine, because there was a complaint for crime of injuries within the family during the period 2017-2018. The information was obtained through the application of a survey of the victims and the review of the existing statistical database in the control book of the expert activity of the aforementioned department of Pinar del Río. Results: most of the victims were between the ages of 16 and 35, of the white race and from the municipality of Pinar del Río. The relationship with the victim was sexual partner, with the punch being the modus operandi and violent behavior the most frequent risk factor; jealousy stood out as mobile of the fact. Night hours and non-serious injuries without the need for medical treatment predominated. Conclusions: domestic violence is a health and social problem in the province of Pinar del Rio, so social and health institutions, and the authorities must work together to prevent and reduce violence (AU).

Rural-urban scaling of age, mortality, crime and property reveals a loss of expected self-similar behaviour.

The urban scaling hypothesis has improved our understanding of cities; however, rural areas have been neglected. We investigated rural-urban population density scaling in England and Wales using 67 indicators of crime, mortality, property, and age. Most indicators exhibited segmented scaling about a median critical density of 27 people per hectare. Above the critical density, urban regions preferentially attract young adults (25-40 years) and lose older people (> 45 years). Density scale adjusted metrics (DSAMs) were analysed using hierarchical clustering, networks, and self-organizing maps (SOMs) revealing regional differences and an inverse relationship between excess value of property transactions and a range of preventable mortality (e.g. diabetes, suicide, lung cancer). The most striking finding is that age demographics break the expected self-similarity underlying the urban scaling hypothesis. Urban dynamism is fuelled by preferential attraction of young adults and not a fundamental property of total urban population.

Close proximity to alcohol outlets is associated with increased crime and hazardous drinking: Pooled nationally representative data from New Zealand.

This nationwide study investigated the relationship between proximity to alcohol outlets (off-licence, on-licence, and other-licence) and two adverse outcomes; hazardous drinking and crime (common assault, non-aggravated sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, and tobacco and liquor offences). After adjustment for important individual- and area-level factors, close proximity to alcohol outlets was associated with increased risk of hazardous drinking, with strong associations for on-licence outlets. Proximity alcohol outlets was also strongly associated with all crime outcomes, often with a dose-response relationship. Nationally representative New Zealand data showed that close proximity to alcohol outlets was associated with increased crime and hazardous drinking.

Tobacco taxes and illicit cigarette trade in Colombia.

This paper estimates the short-term impact of a twofold increase of the tobacco excise tax on consumption of illicit cigarette trade in Colombia. Using data collected before and after the tax increase from a novel smoker survey (DEICS-Col), the impact is estimated as the change in the probability that a smoker has illicit cigarettes. The methodology follows a difference-in-differences strategy, measuring the year-to-year variation of the proportion of illicit cigarettes between smokers who report buying low-priced cigarettes (the highest treatment intensity) and those who bought high-priced cigarettes (lowest treatment intensity). Estimations of the impact show an average increase of 4-5 percentage points on the proportion of illicit cigarettes relative to an initial penetration of low-priced illicit cigarettes of nearly 5.1 %.

Violência, saúde e adoecimento dos corpos na comarca de Vila Rica, século XVIII / Violence, health and ailment of bodies in the parish of Vila Rica, eighteenth century

Resumo Estudos sobre violência no século XVIII abrangem especialmente questões relacionadas à justiça e à criminalidade, mas não à saúde. A pesquisa objetivou compreender como os corpos nas Minas Gerais setecentistas eram afetados por atos violentos. Foram investigados autos de devassas do termo de Vila Rica pertencentes ao acervo do Arquivo Histórico do Museu da Inconfidência. Os resultados mostraram crimes causados por motivos distintos e de tipologias diferentes, predominando os crimes contra o corpo, com consequentes lesões corporais provocadas predominantemente por objetos/instrumentos perfurocortantes. Os homens foram os mais acometidos, sendo a cabeça a principal região atingida. Atos criminosos e violentos, muito comuns nessa sociedade, interferiam na saúde e no adoecimento dos corpos.

Abstract Studies into violence in the eighteenth century tend to address questions related to justice and criminality, but not health. The aim of this study is to understand how, in eighteenth century Minas Gerais, Brazil, bodies were affected by violent acts. The investigation records from the parish of Vila Rica held at the historical archive of the Museu da Inconfidência were investigated. The results showed crimes of different kinds associated with a variety of motives, primarily crimes against the body, with the resulting bodily injuries being caused by sharp or pointed objects/instruments. There were more male victims than female, the head being the principal part of the body affected. Criminal and violent acts, very commonplace in this society, interfered in the health and disease processes of the bodies.

Firearm laws and illegal firearm flow between US states.

BACKGROUND: Considerable variation in firearm legislation exists. Prior studies show an association between stronger state laws and fewer firearm deaths. We hypothesized that firearms would flow from states with weaker laws to states with stronger laws based on proximity and population. METHODS: Crime gun trace data from 2015 to 2017 was accessed from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and compared with the count and composition of firearm legislation in 2015 among the contiguous 48 states. Additional independent variables included population, median household income, distance, and presence or absence of a shared border. We used Exponential Random Graph Models to identify predictors of traced firearm transfers between origin and destination states. RESULTS: After controlling for network structure, firearm laws in origin states were associated with fewer traced firearm transfers (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.88; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83-0.93; p < 0.001). Conversely, more firearm laws in destination states were associated with more traced firearm transfers (IRR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.15; p < 0.001). Larger population at the origin was associated with increased transfers (IRR, 1.38; 95%CI, 1.27-1.50; p < 0.001), as was larger population at the destination state (IRR, 1.45; 95% CI, 1.35-1.56; p < 0.001). Greater distance was associated with fewer transfers (for each 1,000 km; IRR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.27-0.46; p < 0.001), and transfers were greater between adjacent states (IRR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.90-3.27; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: State firearm legislation has a significant impact on gun trafficking even after controlling for network structure. States with stricter firearm legislation are negatively impacted by states with weaker regulations, as crime guns flow from out-of-state. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic, level III.

Prices and Illicit Trade of Cigarettes in the European Union: A Cross-sectional Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Within the context of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control Protocol to Eliminate Illicit Trade in Tobacco Products and the impending revision of the European Union (EU) directive on tobacco excise rules we assessed whether cigarettes price is linked to being offered illicit cigarettes. METHODS: We combined data being offered illicit cigarettes from the 2015 Special Eurobarometer Survey on Illicit Tobacco (N = 27,672) with area-level data on Gross Domestic Product, unemployment, perceived corruption, and sharing a border with a non-European Economic Area (non-EEA) state. We used the 2015 Weighted Average Price of cigarettes (WAP), which reflects the average price of a cigarette pack in each Member State. We assessed associations between prices and illicit trade using three-level ordered regression models. RESULTS: About 19.6% of respondents reported ever being offered illicit cigarettes, 6.4% repeatedly. In fully adjusted models WAP was not associated with being more likely to have been offered illicit market cigarettes more often (adjusted odds ratio = 1.02, 95% confidence interval: 0.91; 1.15). Sharing a border with a non-EEA Member State was associated with increased likelihood of reporting being offered illicit cigarettes more often (1.73, 1.26; 2.39). CONCLUSION: This study found no significant association between cigarette prices and reporting being offered illicit cigarettes; sharing a border with a non-EEA Member State was linked to illicit trade. This study adds to evidence that increasing prices of cigarettes are not associated with illicit trade and that the focus should remain on securing supply chains, including through features such as independent traceability systems. IMPLICATIONS: After adjusting for individual and regional factors, we did not identify an association between prices of cigarettes and likelihood of reporting being offered illicit cigarettes in the EU. Sharing a border with a non-EEA state, however, was associated with increased likelihood of reporting being offered illicit cigarettes more often. This study adds to evidence that increasing taxes and prices of cigarettes are not a driver of illicit trade and that policies should maintain their focus on securing the supply chain.

Built environment and physical activity among adolescents: the moderating effects of neighborhood safety and social support.

BACKGROUND: Increasing emphasis has been placed on improving physical activity levels through multilevel interventions. This study aims to examine moderating effects of neighborhood safety (crime and traffic) and social support (from parent and sibling/peer) for physical activity in the relationship between the built environment and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) outside school hours among adolescents in Melbourne. METHODS: Data were from the NEighbourhood Activity in Youth study conducted among adolescents in Melbourne, Australia (n = 358, 15.3 (SD = 1.5) years). MVPA outside school hours was assessed by accelerometer. Built environment features within 1 km and 2 km residential buffers including recreation facilities, park area, and walkability and its components were assessed using Geographic Information Systems. Neighborhood safety, social support for physical activity and sociodemographic information were self-reported by adolescents. Multilevel linear regression models were used to estimate associations. RESULTS: Support for physical activity from sibling/peer positively moderated the relationship between recreation facilities (1 km), residential density (2 km) and MVPA. Recreation facility (count within 2 km), walkability (1 km and 2 km) and residential density (1 km) had significant positive associations with MVPA outside school hours. CONCLUSION: The built environment appeared to have stronger facilitating effects on MVPA among adolescents who had favourable support for physical activity from their sibling or peer. Multilevel interventions that target the built environment and social factors are needed to promote MVPA outside school hours among adolescents.

Neighborhood crime, disorder and substance use in the Caribbean context: Jamaica National Drug Use Prevalence Survey 2016.

The purpose of the study was to examine the role of objective and subjective measures of neighborhood crime and disorder on substance use among a nationally representative sample of 4525 Jamaicans aged 12-65 years. Log-Poisson models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). A test of interaction was used to determine presence of effect modification by sex. Approximately 39% of the study population reported past-month alcohol use; 10% past-month tobacco use; and 15% past-month marijuana use. In fully adjusted models, past-month alcohol and tobacco use were associated with perceived neighborhood disorder (p<0.05). The likelihood of alcohol use was 1.12 (95%CI:1.04, 1.20) times greater among participants who perceived higher neighborhood disorder. The likelihood of tobacco use was 1.22 (95%CI: 1.01, 1.46) times greater among participants who perceived higher neighborhood disorder. A significant test for interaction in adjusted models (P<0.2) suggested that the associations between substance use and perceived neighborhood disorder varied by sex. Examination of stratified models indicated that the role of perceived neighborhood disorder on alcohol and tobacco consumption varied among females, but not males. Females who perceived higher levels of neighborhood disorder had an increased likelihood of past-month alcohol and tobacco use (RRa:1.25 95%CI:1,07, 1.45; RRa:1.73 95%CI: 1.10, 2.67). Objective neighborhood crime measures were not associated with alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana use. The study findings provide evidence for the importance of considering subjective and objective neighborhood measures when examining relations with health outcome and demonstrate that perceptions of context and contextual exposures are not uniform across populations within neighborhoods. Interventions focused on building community trust and social cohesion (e.g. neighborhood community watch groups) and greening of blighted or abandoned spaces may help increase the sense of safety and order, reducing stress and maladaptive coping such as substance use.

Problem gambling and support preferences among Finnish prisoners: a pilot study in an adult correctional population.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this paper is to explore the prevalence of potential problem gambling among Finnish prisoners; the associations between problem gambling and demographics, substance use and crime-related factors; and problem gamblers' support preferences. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: Prisoners (n=96) from two Finnish prisons were recruited between December 2017 and January 2018. The estimated response rate was 31 percent. Gambling problems were measured using the Brief Biosocial Gambling Screen. The participants were asked to report their gambling both for one year prior to their incarceration and for the past year. The independent variables were demographics (age, gender and marital status), substance use (alcohol, smoking and narcotics) and crime-related factors (crime type, prison type and previous sentence). Statistical significance (p) was determined using Fischer's exact test. FINDINGS: Past-year pre-conviction problem gambling prevalence was 16.3 percent and past-year prevalence 15 percent. Age, gender, smoking, alcohol or illicit drug use were not associated with past-year problem gambling before sentencing. One-third of the prisoners (33.3 percent) who were sentenced for a property crime, financial crime or robbery were problem gamblers. One-quarter (24 percent) of all participants showed an interest in receiving support by identifying one or more support preferences. The most preferred type of support was group support in its all forms. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS: It is recommended that correctional institutions undertake systematic screening for potential problem gambling, and implement tailored intervention programs for inmates with gambling problems. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study provides a deeper understanding of problem gambling in prisons. Problem gambling is associated with crime and also seems to be linked with serving a previous sentence. Early detection and tailored interventions for problem gambling may help to reduce reoffending rates.

Protocol for the Data-Linkage Alcohol Cohort Study (DACS): investigating mortality, morbidity and offending among people with an alcohol-related problem using linked administrative data.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this program of research are to use linked health and law enforcement data to describe individuals presenting to emergency and inpatient healthcare services with an acute alcohol harm or problematic alcohol use; measure their health service utilisation and law enforcement engagement; and quantify morbidity, mortality, offending and incarceration. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will assemble a retrospective cohort of people presenting to emergency departments and/or admitted to hospitals between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2014 in New South Wales, Australia with a diagnosis denoting an acute alcohol harm or problematic alcohol use. We will link these data with records from other healthcare services (eg, community-based mental healthcare data, cancer registry), mortality, offending and incarceration data sets. The four overarching areas for analysis comprise: (1) describing the characteristics of the cohort at their first point of contact with emergency and inpatient hospital services in the study period with a diagnosis indicating an acute alcohol harm and/or problematic alcohol use; (2) quantifying health service utilisation and law enforcement engagement; (3) quantifying rates of mortality, morbidity, offending and incarceration; and (4) assessing predictors (eg, age, sex) of mortality, morbidity, offending and incarceration among this cohort. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval has been provided by the New South Wales Population and Health Services Research Ethics Committee. We will report our findings in accordance with the REporting of studies Conducted using Observational Routinely collected health Data (RECORD) statement and Guidelines for Accurate and Transparent Health Estimates Reporting (GATHER) where appropriate. We will publish data in tabular, aggregate forms only. We will not disclose individual results. We will disseminate project findings at scientific conferences and in peer-reviewed journals. We will aim to present findings to relevant stakeholders (eg, addiction medicine and emergency medicine specialists, policy makers) to maximise translational impact of research findings.

Smoke-free environment policy in Vietnam: what did people see and how did they react when they visited various public places?

INTRODUCTION: Since Vietnam has signed WHO framework on tobacco control (FCTC) in 2003 and has issued tobacco control law in 2013, there has been little research concerning about what impacts smoke-free regulations have had on public compliance. The objective of this study was to assess public exposure to secondhand smoke and reaction toward smoke-free policy regulations in Vietnam and the associated factor. METHODS: Using the design of GATS (Global Adult Tobacco Survey), a nationally representative sample of 8,996 adults were approached for data collection. Logistic regression was used to examine the associated factor. RESULTS: The study revealed that the prevalence of respondents exposed to secondhand smoke was much higher in bars/café/tea shops (90.07%) and restaurants (81.81%) than in any other public places, universities (36.70%), government buildings (31.12%), public transport (20.04%), healthcare facilities (17.85%) and schools (15.84%). 13.23% of respondents saw smokers violate smoke-free regulations. Among those who saw them violate smoke-free regulations, just one-third cautioned them to stop smoking. Strikingly, a higher rate of cautioning smokers to stop smoking was observed among the older, married, and better educated respondents. Respondents who were married, better educated and in lower economic status were more likely to remind smokers to stop smoking. CONCLUSIONS: The study has called for strengthening two of the six MPOWER (Monitor, Protect, Offer, Warn, Enforce and Raise) components of the tobacco free initiative introduced by WHO, Monitoring tobacco use and prevention policies and Protecting people from tobacco smoke.

Exposure to community violence and substance use among Black men who have sex with men: examining the role of psychological distress and criminal justice involvement.

Young Black MSM (YBMSM) are disproportionately affected by violence, criminal justice involvement, and other structural factors that also increase vulnerability to HIV. This study examined associations between exposure to community violence (ECV) and substance use, psychological distress, and criminal justice involvement (CJI) among YBMSM in Chicago, IL. Respondent driven sampling was used to recruit a sample of 618 YBMSM (aged 16-29) from the South Side of Chicago between June 2013 and July 2014. Weighted logistic regression assessed the direct effects of ECV, CJI, and psychological distress on substance use outcomes. Indirect effects were assessed via path analysis with mean and variance adjusted weighted least squares estimation and sampling weights. Over 90% reported lifetime exposure to violence, 41% had history of CJI, and substance use was common. Almost one-third reported daily or more frequent marijuana use; 17% reported substance use related problems and drug use other than marijuana. ECV was directly and positively associated with CJI, psychological distress, and problematic substance use, with significant indirect effects from ECV to⁠ problematic substance use via CJI and psychological distress. HIV prevention interventions for YBMSM should address the underlying contextual drivers of substance use and psychological distress, including violence exposure and criminal justice involvement.

Tobacco industry data on illicit tobacco trade: a systematic review of existing assessments.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the quality of tobacco industry-funded data on the illicit tobacco trade (ITT) through a systematic review of existing assessments of industry-funded data on ITT. DATA SOURCES: Papers and reports assessing tobacco industry-funded data on ITT were obtained via searches of 8 academic databases, Google searches and correspondence with ITT experts. STUDY SELECTION: Inclusion criteria identified 35 English-language papers containing an original assessment of tobacco industry-funded data. DATA EXTRACTION: Using a coding framework, information was extracted from the assessments regarding the quality of tobacco industry data. Documents were second-coded, achieving 94% intercoder reliability with all disagreements resolved. DATA SYNTHESIS: Of the 35 assessments reviewed, 31 argued that tobacco industry estimates were higher than independent estimates. Criticisms identified problems with data collection (29), analytical methods (22) and presentation of results (21), which resulted in inflated ITT estimates or data on ITT that were presented in a misleading manner. Lack of transparency from data collection right through to presentation of findings was a key issue with insufficient information to allow replication of the findings frequently cited. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco industry data on ITT are not reliable. At present, the tobacco industry continues to fund and disseminate ITT research through initiatives such as PMI IMPACT. If industry data on ITT cannot meet the standards of accuracy and transparency set by high-quality research publications, a solution may be to tax tobacco companies and administer the resulting funds to experts, independent of the tobacco industry, who use previously developed reliable models for measuring ITT.

No surge in illicit cigarettes after implementation of menthol ban in Nova Scotia.

BACKGROUND: In May 2015, the Canadian province of Nova Scotia became the first jurisdiction in the world to ban menthol cigarettes specifically. The tobacco industry warned that 'the primary effect of this law will be to increase the illegal tobacco market in Nova Scotia'. This is the first attempt to examine the impact of the menthol ban on trends in illicit cigarettes. DATA AND METHODS: Data on the number of illicit cigarettes seized in Nova Scotia covering the period from 2007/2008 to 2017/2018 was obtained from the Provincial Tax Commission. Data from before and after the ban are compared. RESULTS: According to the local authorities, while the enforcement efforts in Nova Scotia have not declined, the number of seized illicit cigarettes declined significantly, from >60 000 cartons in 2007/2008 to <10 000 cartons in 2017/2018. Since the menthol ban, the seizure volume remained stable, with no statistically significant difference in the number of cigarettes seized before and after the menthol ban (t=-0.71, p=0.55). There were only a few small seizures of menthol cigarettes in the year following the ban, after which there have been no further seizures of menthol cigarettes. DISCUSSION: Contrary to the tobacco industry's assertions, there was no surge in illicit cigarettes after the 2015 ban on menthol cigarette sales in Nova Scotia. Credible, industry-independent evidence on illicit cigarette trade is desperately needed to support the implementation of tobacco control policies.

Exposure to Neighborhood Crime Is Associated with Lower Levels of Physical Activity and Higher Obesity Risk among Adolescent Girls, but Not Boys.

BACKGROUND: Neighborhood safety has been linked to physical activity and obesity among adolescents, but few studies have used objective measures of crime or examined associations by gender. The goal of this study was to investigate if exposure to objectively measured neighborhood crime was associated with physical activity and overweight/obesity among adolescents, and if this association varied by gender. METHODS: Georeferenced data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006 were linked to census tract-level data on crime reports from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, focusing on a sample of adolescents 12-20 years of age (n = 15,261). Our outcome variables were engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity in the previous week and overweight/obesity status, defined as ≥85th percentile in the CDC's age- and sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts (based on measured weight and height). Our exposure variable was neighborhood-level violent crime risk, categorized as low vs. high. Gender-stratified three-level multilevel logistic regression models were fitted adjusting for individual, family, and neighborhood-level demographic and socioeconomic variables and adolescents' diet quality. RESULTS: In fully adjusted models, girls exposed to high crime neighborhoods had 26% lower odds of engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the previous week [odds ratio (OR) = 0.74, confidence interval (95% CI) = 0.59-0.92] and 27% higher odds of being overweight/obese (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.02-1.58), compared with adolescent girls exposed to low crime neighborhoods. No significant associations were found between exposure to neighborhood crime and physical activity and overweight/obesity among boys. CONCLUSION: Prevention efforts focused on encouraging adolescents to be physically active need to account for gender-specific barriers to exercise outdoors.