Metendo a colher: o profissional de saúde diante da violência contra a mulher durante a gestação

Abstract

Introduction: In Brazil, 1 in every 3 women has suffered domestic or sexual violence. Pregnancy is considered a risk factor for this incidence, which impacts obstetric, neonatal and psychological outcomes. Taking that into account, public policies state that different government sectors must act together, including health institutions. However, even in prenatal services, health professionals who regularly care for women during pregnancy do not include attention to violence against women as part of their routine care. Objective: Analyze the perceptions of health professionals who work in public prenatal service of Brazilian Unified Health System in Rio de Janeiro about their role in the face of violence against women during pregnancy. Methodology: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Ten health professionals who work in prenatal care were interviewed and content analysis was carried out, following Bardin (1977). Results: Professionals highlighted the importance of the topic and the barriers they encounter to approach and/or further referral the cases. The following categories were identified and discussed: “Concept of violence against women and its consequences”; “Approach to the theme in prenatal services: possibilities and difficulties”; “And when it happens? Tools and approaches to combat violence”; and “The health professional faced with violence against women: feelings and implications”. Final Considerations: The study highlights the importance of health institutions addressing the issue and the need for continued training and assistance guidelines to promote screening, support and further referral of the cases of violence against women to the right assistance.