Violence against women: characterization of cases assisted in a state reference center

Abstract

This is a descriptive qualitative study with the objective of tracing a socioeconomic and tocogynecological profile of women victims of violence, identifying the main types of violence and knowing the reasons for this. It was carried out in a Reference Center specialized in assisting women victims of violence, in Fortaleza-CE, Brazil. 64 women were interviewed between April and May 2009. The following profile was found: young women (75%), with 1 to 3 children (73,4%), who lived with her partner (81,2%), main offender (81,2%), who committed mainly psychological violence (100%) in their own homes (84,3%). The injuries resulted in police report in most cases (93,5%), but few resulted in conducting a forensic examination (42%). It emphasizes the role of health professionals to recognize potential situations of violence and thereby to guide and direct the victims to reference units, as well as the imposition of measures to prevent occurrence of new cases of violence.