The practice of family health strategy workers when caring for women in gender violence situations

Vanda Palmarella Rodrigues,Juliana Costa Machado,Aline Vieira Simões,Normélia Maria Freire Diniz,Mirian Santos Paiva,Vilara Maria Mesquita Mendes Pires

doi:10.1590/0104-07072014001650013

Vanda Palmarella Rodrigues, Juliana Costa Machado + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/0104-07072014001650013

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe the practice of Family Health Strategy workers when dealing with women in gender violence situations. It is a qualitative study, conducted with 25 healthcare workers from three Family Health Strategy units in a municipality of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview and analyzed based on the discourse analysis method. The results yielded two empirical categories: expression of violence against women due to gender issues, with display of physical and psychological violence by a spouse, and strategies to face up gender violence. The second category displayed that the unit's actions that do not contemplate gender issues and that referrals to assistance services do not receive counter-referrals. We emphasize the need for Family Health Strategy staff to receive qualification for acting in gender violence situations, and for public management to promote a network structure for assistance services.

Highlights

In the global scenario, since 2002, the World Health Organization has emphasized that, violence is not considered an issue for health care itself, it constitutes a severe public health problem for several reasons: causing injuries, physical and emotional trauma and even death
This study allowed us to understand a broader aspect of violence regarding gender issues, which greatly influence relationships established between men and women in our society
Regarding the intervention strategies implemented by the FHS workers in situations of violence against women, we emphasize the health team’s participation through orientation, counseling and referrals to assistance services, following a standardized process that makes it difficult to approach gender issues when caring for women in situations of violence

Summary

Introduction

Since 2002, the World Health Organization has emphasized that, violence is not considered an issue for health care itself, it constitutes a severe public health problem for several reasons: causing injuries, physical and emotional trauma and even death. Violence is defined as the use of physical force or power, whether threatened or actual, against oneself, against another or against a group or community. It results or presents a high likelihood of resulting in suffering, psychological harm, maldevelopment or deprivation, or even death.[1]. Bringing our attention to family violence, it can occur at different severity levels, by means of physical, sexual, and psychological abuse, neglect, abandonment, and maltreatment, among other manifestations. Its perpetrators can be people with family relations, be they spouses or relatives, or an intimate bond within a relationship based on power, be it physical, age, psychological, hierarchical and/or gender-related.[3,4]

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