Abstract
To assess public services attending female victims of sexual violence in the city of Sao Paulo. This is a qualitative study conducted in two public services attending female victims of sexual violence. Interviews with 42 women were conducted, 13 of whom had sought these services for assistance and 29 were professionals working in these services. Evaluation of the services was based on the categories: reception, access, resolvability and sanitary responsibility. The analysis of the interviews per category has shown that there was reception in both services, problems with respect to access due to the lack of information concerning these services, and quality resolvability with a multi-professional team. As to the sanitary responsibility, it is present in these specialized services but is deficient in the emergency services and basic health care units. Many women are unaware of the rights they are entitled to with respect to specialized services. Frequently their late arrival compromises the efficacy of care. There are deficiencies both in terms of reference and counter reference. The results ratify the importance of these services and the need for their decentralized expansion. Health courses should introduce the theme of sexual violence at the undergraduate level.
Highlights
During the past two decades, the issue of violence against women has been recognized by human rights entities as well as international organizations such as WHO (World Health Organization) and PAHO (PanAmerican Health Organization) as a public health issue
Sexual violence refers to rape, attempted rape, violent abuse, seduction, obscene acts and harassment, that may occur in conjunction with each other as well as with other types of physical violence.[6]
Violence within gender relations and, sexual violence may imply in the greater occurrence of several physical, reproductive and mental disorders, and may result in the more frequent use of health care services by victims.[11]
Summary
During the past two decades, the issue of violence against women has been recognized by human rights entities as well as international organizations such as WHO (World Health Organization) and PAHO (PanAmerican Health Organization) as a public health issue. Sexual violence reveals the complex context of power which marks social relations between sexes. Sexual violence refers to rape, attempted rape, violent abuse, seduction, obscene acts and harassment, that may occur in conjunction with each other as well as with other types of physical violence (body injury, attempted homicide, abuse and threats).[6]. Violence within gender relations and, sexual violence may imply in the greater occurrence of several physical, reproductive and mental disorders, and may result in the more frequent use of health care services by victims.[11] Health services, Presented at the X Congress on Scientific Initiation - PIBIC/Unifesp, Sao Paulo, 2003. Financed by the Fundação de Apoio aos Docentes e Alunos da Unifesp [Foundation for the Support of Professors and Students of the Federal University of Sao Paulo]
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