Methodologies for population surveys on violence in rural areas: a scoping review

OBJETIVE: To examine the methods used in population surveys concerning the epidemiology of violence against people living in rural areas. METHOD: Scoping review, conducted using the JBI method and reported according to PRISMA-ScR. The protocol was registered with OSF in August 2022 (DOI https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/WG6PU). The searches took place from July to September 2022, with an update on April 27, 2025, through keywords and controlled terms mapping, guided by the acronym Population, Concept and Context. The data sources included MEDLINE, Web of Science, LILACS, Scopus, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, grey literature, and unpublished studies. Two independent reviewers selected the studies. RESULTS: One hundred and ten studies were included: 89.09% (n = 98) with a cross-sectional design; 46.36% (n = 51) with adults; and 56.36% (n = 62) with women. In 37.27% (n = 41) of the studies, the sampling technique was not described; 59.09% (n = 65) used questionnaires; and 69.09% (n = 76) performed descriptive and inferential statistical analysis. CONCLUSION: Heterogeneity was observed regarding the instruments, sampling, and methodological designs of the surveys.