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Health characteristics of female victims of domestic violence housed in a state care shelter

Abstract

The promotion of care for female victims of violence implies action that is not limited to combatting the problem, but also to the dimension of care provided to the victims. This study seeks to understand the sociodemographic and health characteristics of female victims of violence who are/have been under the protective custody of the state, before and after the Maria da Penha Law (MPL), and the healthcare offered to them. It is a cross-sectional, exploratory-descriptive documentary study, with a qualitative/quantitative approach, conducted in the second semester of 2013 in a special unit for the protection of female victims of violence in the State of Ceará. The sample was composed of 197 medical records of women attended between 2001 and 2012. Few changes occurred in the health profile of female victims of domestic violence sheltered by the State after the enactment of the MPL. Significant changes occurred in the pattern of care provided, such as increased investigation, promotion, and registration of health-related activities. The identification of the aftereffects of aggression per se is still scarce. A suggested addition would be the inclusion of a health professional in the staff at the shelters to meet this demand.

Key words
Domestic violence; Legislation; Women's health

Resumo

A promoção do atendimento às mulheres vítimas de violência implica uma ação não limitada ao combate, mas também à dimensão da assistência dada às vítimas. Este estudo visa conhecer as características sociodemográficas e de saúde das mulheres vítimas de violência que estão/estiveram sob a tutela protetora do Estado, antes e após a Lei Maria da Penha (LMP), bem como a assistência à saúde ofertada. Estudo seccional, exploratório-descritivo, documental, quali-quatitativo realizado em uma unidade de proteção especial de mulheres vítimas de violência do Estado do Ceará no segundo semestre de 2013. Amostra composta por 197 prontuários das mulheres atendidas entre 2001 e 2012. Poucas mudanças ocorreram no perfil de saúde de mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica atendidas pelo Estado, após a promulgação da LMP. Mudanças relevantes ocorreram no padrão de assistência oferecido, tais como maior investigação, promoção e registro de atividades relacionadas à saúde. Ainda é escassa a identificação de sequelas da agressão propriamente dita. Sugere-se inclusão de profissionais da saúde na equipe do abrigo para suprir essa demanda.

Palavras-chave
Violência doméstica; Legislação; Saúde da mulher

Introduction

Violence is a social phenomenon that occurs in human relationships in which there are conflicts of interest and domination. Domestic violence is considered a type of gender violence and refers to violence that occurs within the households, defined as any act of physical, sexual, or emotional aggression perpetrated by an individual with whom one has or has had a relationship11. Sá SD, Werlang BSG. Personalidade de mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica: uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Contextos Clínicos 2013; 6(2):106-116.,22. Barros GS. Análise da violência doméstica e familiar contra a mulher no contexto da aplicação da Lei Maria da Penha. Âmbito Jurídico 2012; 15(105). [2014 maio 22]. Disponível em: http://www.ambitojuridico.com.br/site/index.php/?n_link=revista_artigos_leitura&artigo_id=12364&revista_caderno=14.
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According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in a study conducted in ten countries, including Brazil, up to 71% of women aged 15 to 49 years have suffered some physical and/or sexual violence at some point in their lives33. Howard LM, Oram S, Galley H, Trevillion K, Feder G. Domestic violence and perinatal mental disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS Med 2013; 10(5):e1001452.. In Latin America, domestic violence affects up to 50% of women, causing a 14.2% reduction in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) because of the costs it gives rise to. In Brazil, 23% of women become victims of domestic violence, which means that a woman is assaulted every four minutes. The aggressors are their own partners in 85% of the cases44. Adeodato VG, Carvalho RR, Siqueira VR, Souza FGM. Qualidade de vida e depressão em mulheres vítimas de seus parceiros. Rev Saúde Pub 2005; 39(1):108-113..

Several legal measures have been adopted in Brazil as strategies for combating violence against women44. Adeodato VG, Carvalho RR, Siqueira VR, Souza FGM. Qualidade de vida e depressão em mulheres vítimas de seus parceiros. Rev Saúde Pub 2005; 39(1):108-113.

5. Amico CC. Violência doméstica e familiar contra a mulher: necessidade de representação da vítima em caso de lesão corporal leve e culposa. Boletim IBCCRIM 2007; 14(170):18-19.
-66. Osis MJD, Duarte GA, Faúndes A. Violência entre usuárias de unidades de saúde: prevalência, perspectiva e conduta de gestores e profissionais. Rev Saude Publica 2012; 46(2):351-358.. The creation of the Secretariat of Policy for Women in 2003 boosted the actions against violence, making it an intersectoral issue. Thus, promoting assistance to women victims of violence implies a qualified, humanized, multi- and interdisciplinary action, which presupposes a combative notion that is not limited to fighting the problem, but also to the dimension of the assistance provided to the victims77. Brasil. Presidência da República (PR). Secretaria Nacional de Enfrentamento à Violência contra as Mulheres. Secretaria de Políticas para as Mulheres. Política nacional de enfrentamento à violência contra as mulheres. Brasília: PR; 2011..

Law 11340, known as Maria da Penha Law (MPL), was enacted in the latter part of year 2006 aiming to characterize gender violence as serious violation of the human rights and to ensure facing this problem by means of protection and humanized procedures for the victims, through transformations in the relationship between victims and perpetrators, changes in the way the crime is prosecuted, in the police service, and in the Prosecution Office assistance as well88. Meneghel SN, Mueller B, Collaziol ME, Quadros MM. Repercussões da Lei Maria da Penha no enfrentamento da violência de gênero. Cien Saude Colet 2013; 18(3):691-700..

Although the scenario of violence against women demands an intersectoral action, debates and study of the MPL are still deeply rooted in the scope of legal and social sciences99. Pasinato W. Contribuições para o debate sobre violência, gênero e impunidade no Brasil. São Paulo em Perspectiva 2007; 21(2):5-14.

10. Dantas BM, Méllo RP. Posicionamentos críticos e éticos sobre a violência contra as mulheres. Psicol Soc 2008; 20(spe):78-86.

11. Porto M, Costa FP. Lei Maria da Penha: as representações do judiciário sobre a violência contra as mulheres. Estud psicol (Campinas) 2010; 27(4):479-489.

12. Cordeiro ES, Cohen RHP. Crime ou parceria amorosa violenta: Interlocuções entre psicanálise aplicada e Direito. Opção Lacaniana online nova série 2012; 3(7):1-9.

13. Carneiro AA, Fraga CK. A Lei Maria da Penha e a proteção legal à mulher vítima em São Borja no Rio Grande do Sul: da violência denunciada à violência silenciada. Serv Soc Soc 2012; (110):369-397.

14. Moraes AFM, Ribeiro L. As políticas de combate à violência contra a mulher no Brasil e a “responsabilização” dos “homens autores de violência”. Sex Salud Soc 2012; (11):37-58.
-1515. Botelho RC. Lei Maria da Penha: O discurso jurídico de responsabilização dos crimes e a efetividade da norma legal [dissertação]. Brasília: Universidade Católica de Brasília; 2013., with little production in the health area, whether concerning prevention or the healthcare offered to women victims of domestic violence1616. Silva RF, Prado MM, Garcia RR, Daruge-Júnior E, Daruge E. Atuação profissional do cirurgião-dentista diante da Lei Maria da Penha. Rev Sul-Bras Odontol 2010; 7(1):110-116.,1717. Amaral NA, Amaral CA, Amaral TLM. Mortalidade feminina e anos de vida perdidos por homicídio/agressão em capital brasileira após promulgação da Lei Maria Da Penha. Texto Contexto Enferm 2013; 22(4):980-988..

Understanding the characteristics of women in situations of violence is one of the ways to improve the visibility of this subject, the society's perception of this situation, and the type and quality of care offered to this group in the services. Thus, recognizing the dimensions of the phenomenon of violence and elucidating the dynamics of its determinants provide subsidies to the formulation of public policies and encourages the reporting of cases in the individual and institutional levels1818. Moura MAV, Netto LA, Souza MHN. Perfil sociodemográfico de mulheres em situação de violência assistidas nas delegacias especializadas. Esc Anna Nery 2012; 16(3):435-442.. It is, therefore, necessary to know the sociodemographic and health characteristics of women victims of violence who are/have been under the protective guardianship of the state, before and after the Maria da Penha Law, and the healthcare offered to them.

Materials and Methods

Cross-sectional, exploratory-descriptive, documentary study, with quantitative and qualitative approaches, performed during the second half of 2013 in a special shelter unit for women victims of violence in the state of Ceará. The said unit is linked to the Secretariat of Labor and Social Development, the Police Department Women's Rights Unit, and the Ceará Council of Women's Rights.

The sample was composed of the medical records of women who had been victims of any kind of domestic violence between 2001 and 2012. To set the sample size, we considered the total of women assisted per year, and an estimation of 30% was settled through stratified, proportional sampling per year. Therefore, of the 608 women seen between 2001 and 2012, 183 were selected for the sample and, considering a loss of 7% (14), the total sample comprised 197 medical records. To select the medical records, a list of random numbers without repetition was generated through Microsoft Office Excel® 2007. In case the selected record could not be found, the following record number was selected, considering their arrangement in order of admittance in the sheltering unit. The records of underage women were excluded, as well as those lacking consistent information (women with impaired cognitive function, that is, women presenting neurological disorders that could compromise the answers).

Data was collected by three blind researchers, previously trained, using a specially designed form containing: sociodemographic variables (age, race, religion, marital status, education, family income); experience with violence (triggering factor, type of relationship with the aggressor, means used for the assault); health status of the attacked woman (diseases history, gynecological history, physical and mental examination, lesions location on the body); and other observations that were relevant to the study, such as the women's history of life and details from the police report. The healthcare provided by the shelter unit was qualitatively evaluated, with the researchers’ observations being recorded in a field diary, along with the health-related information that was available in the medical records.

The database was populated in duplicate using Microsoft Office Excel® 2007, and the analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS®), version 20. For inferential analysis, it was decided to adopt a cut considering the promulgation period of MPL (prior to it, from 2001 to 2006, and after, post-2007), since this legislation changed the way domestic violence is confronted, by ensuring better assistance to the victims in Brazil. Inferential statistics was conducted to compare the variables using Pearson's chi-square test, adopting a significance level of 5% (P < 0.05). Data normality was tested by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.

The research project was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Federal University of Ceará, in accordance with resolution 466/12 of the National Board of Health1919. Brasil. Ministério da Saúde (MS). Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Resolução nº 466, de 12 de dezembro de 2012. Diário Oficial da União 2013; 13 dez..

Results

Most of the women in the sample (43.7%) were older than 31 years (29.76 ± 7.27 years; min. = 18 and max. = 58), brown (47.2%), literate (91.4 %), single (73%), and lived in the capital (84.8%). Almost one third of the sample (30.5%) reported having no income, 37.6% worked in domestic services, 31.5% were unemployed or had no profession, and 26.9% received social support (Table 1).

Table 1
Sociodemographic profile of the studied population.

The majority of the sheltered women had been assaulted in the period prior to MPL (73.0% vs. 27.0%). More than 2/3 of the sample (86.3%) was assaulted by a steady partner (husband or boyfriend), and the relationship with the perpetrator lasted up to 10 years (157.8 ± 241.1 months; min = 1 month and max. = 31 years) in 72.1% of cases. The triggering factor for aggression was jealousy (20.3%), and the most popular means of aggression was physical force (40.1%) (Table 2).

Table 2
Characteristics of the experience with violence in the studied population.

With regard to the women's reproductive health, most had 1 to 5 living children (93.8% vs. 86.8%, P = 0.108); were not pregnant at the time they were housed in the shelter (7.6% vs. 5.7%, P = 0.632); had received prenatal care during all pregnancies (51.7% vs. 62.3%, P = 0.000); had 1-3 births in life (43.1% vs. 56.6 %, P = 0.527); and had never undergone an abortion (50% vs. 58.5%, P = 0.640) (Table 3).

Table 3
Health characteristics of the studied population.

As regards the history of diseases, most women were healthy and a few had Diabetes Mellitus (0.7% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.187) or systemic arterial hypertension (4.2% vs. 3.8%, P = 0.532). The most reported previous disease was sexually transmitted disease (STD) (45.1% vs. 17%, p = 0.009) followed by mental disorders such as anxiety, tearfulness, and depression symptoms with or without medical diagnosis (9.7% vs. 1.9%, P = 0.009). As for health knowledge and practices, most women report having some knowledge of contraceptives (83.3% vs. 71.7%, P = 0.015), having smoking habits (27.8% vs. 49.1%, P = 0.005), consuming alcohol (9.7% vs. 20.8%, P = 0.041), and being users of illicit drugs (3.5% vs. 17.0%, P = 0.001). Most report making use of some medication continuously (70.8% vs. 71.7%, P = 0.127) and they were admitted to the shelter with no apparent injury resulting from assault (12.5% vs. 22.6%, P = 0.709) (Table 3).

The way records are done has changed after the promulgation of MPL. The admission form initially contained generic and broad data (history of diseases, medicine use, illicit drug use, and diseases of children), likewise the anamnesis form (menarche, first pregnancy, and violence during pregnancy). The record contained prescriptions and medical tests, a psychosocial support form and police report (Chart 1).

Chart 1
Healthcare provided to the women in the shelter.

After the MPL, the admission form added information on the children who were not sheltered, the section “health information”, gynecological monitoring, detailed drug abuse, and means used in the assault. The anamnesis form was also modified, including history of sexual violence, abortions, and STD detailing, besides self-evaluation of the emotional state with questions about self-esteem. A follow-up folder with information about the health actions was also added to the women's records, including a medications chart (type, dosage and time of administration), prescriptions and medical examinations, and other healthcare actions (consultations, arrangements, relevant observations). Besides the above, the record comprised the so-called individualized plan of care for women victims of domestic violence, consisting of reports of internal activities and workshops, information on health, multidisciplinary and therapeutic monitoring, with identification of health demands (skin or psychiatric conditions, disability, use of medication, substance addiction, STD); the multi-professional (consultations, exams, referrals) and monitoring services (psychology and occupational therapy) provided to the woman, and the delineation of strategies for family reintegration and community life after discharge (Chart 1).

Discussion

There was a decline in the number of sheltered women after the promulgation of MPL. The sheltered women are young, brown, at personal and social vulnerability, battered by long-time intimate partner, because of jealousy and by means of physical force. There was an increase in health-related practices (use of psychoactive substances and carrying out prenatal care), and improvement in the knowledge of contraceptives, although STDs remain quite prevalent. It is noteworthy that the registries and the healthcare offered in the sheltering unit were expanded after the MPL.

The decrease in the number of women housed in the shelter after the PML was enacted may be linked to the fact that the law rendered stricter the punishment of aggressors (Urgent protective measures – removal of the aggressor, suspension of visitation to children - and monetary penalties cannot be applied anymore, taking as a crime any form of aggression.), and limited the referral of women to shelters to the cases of extreme risk, when there is no alternative solution, and that referral often occurs after reporting a second or third violent event2020. Alves ES, Oliveira DLLC, Maffacciolli R. Repercussões da Lei Maria da Penha no enfrentamento da violência doméstica em Porto Alegre. Rev Gaúcha Enferm 2012; 33(3):141-147.,2121. Pinheiro MJM. Mulheres abrigadas: violência conjugal e trajetórias de vida. Fortaleza: EdUECE, EDMETA; 2012.. Thus, after the MPL, being housed in a shelter only occurs in situations where this is the only way to break the violent relationship2222. Pinheiro MJM, Frota MHP. As casas-abrigo: política pública de proteção à mulher vítima de violência doméstica. O público e o privado 2006; (8)109-130..

In Ceará as in Brazil, the factors associated with domestic violence, particularly the psychological violence, are associated with age (above 30 years), low education, race (non-white), absence of paid employment, romantic relationship profile (steady and lasting), and history of violence (having suffered or lived with violence during childhood)2323. Kronbauer JFD, Meneghel SN. Perfil da violência de gênero perpetrada por companheiro. Rev Saude Publica 2005; 39(5):695-701.

24. Silva MA, Neto GHF, Filho JEC. Maus-tratos na infância de mulheres vítimas de violência. Psicol. estud. 2009; 14(1):121-127.

25. Veloso MMX, Magalhães CMC, Dell’Aglio DD, Cabral IR, Gomes MM. Notificação da violência como estratégia de vigilância em saúde: perfil de uma metrópole do Brasil. Cien Saude Colet 2013; 18(5):1263-1272.
-2626. Araújo IM, Lima JC, Borsoi ICF. Operárias no Cariri cearense: fábrica, família e violência doméstica. Rev Estud Fem 2011;19(3):705-732..

In other countries, however, there is disagreement on these issues relating personnel and social vulnerability of battered women. A multi-country study showed that risk factors for domestic violence are associated with having had other romantic relationships, especially if there are children, having suffered other forms of violence, use of alcohol, and the women's attitude of acceptance of violence2727. Abramsky T, Watts CH, Garcia-Moreno C, Devries K, Kiss L, Ellsberg M, Jansen HA, Heise L. What factors are associated with recent intimate partner violence? findings from the WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence. BMC Public Health 2011; 11:109.. Sonego et al.2828. Sonego M, Gandarillas A, Zorrilla B, Lasheras L, Pires M, Anes A, Ordobás M. Unperceived intimate partner violence and women's health. Gac Sanit 2013; 27(5):440-446. reported that the violence which this woman is subjected to influences her perception; for example, when a woman suffers psychological violence, she just does not interpret this as abuse/violence, but as something “normal”; only when it extrapolates to the physical aggression, it becomes abnormal.

Jealousy, trivial reasons and use of mind-altering substances are elements present in the violent daily life of the studied women. Dossi et al.2929. Dossi AP, Saliba O, Garbin CAS, Garbin AJI. Perfil epidemiológico da violência física intrafamiliar: agressões denunciadas em um município do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, entre 2001 e 2005. Cad Saude Publica 2008; 24(8):1939-1952. report that jealousy is the leading cause of intimate partner violence, which is due to the sense of ownership of man over woman. Those authors also reports that drug use is associated with episodes of violence (92%), and that banal and commonplace reasons are responsible for turning aggressiveness into aggression. The battered women's perception reflect these findings:

he batters me because he's hotheaded, because he didn't receive any money, because he says he dreamed I was cheating on him… (sheltered in 2007).

Physical violence, prevalent in the study, causes numerous traumatic injuries that manifest themselves in the form of bruises, fractures, and organic disorders such as inaccurate pain and multiple complaints, but are rarely described in the records and seemingly little investigated during the initial care provided in the shelter3030. Garbin CAS, Garbin AJI, Dossi AP, Dossi MO. Violência doméstica: análise das lesões em mulheres. Cad Saude Publica 2006; 22(12):2567-2573.,3131. Prates PL. Violência doméstica e de gênero: perfil sociodemográfico e psicossocial de mulheres abrigadas [dissertação]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo; 2007..

The experience of physical violence sometimes resonates with the experiences in sexual and reproductive health of these women. Like in this study, Campbell et al.3232. Campbell J, Jones AS, Dienemann J, Kub J, Schollenberger J, O’Campo P, Gielen AC, Wynne C. Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences. Arch. Intern. Med. 2002; 162(10):1157-1163. demonstrated an association between domestic violence perpetrated by an intimate partner and urogynecological disorders (STD, urinary tract infections, pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, vaginal infections, and fibrosis). This can be explained by the fact that most of these women are also victims of sexual abuse, being forced to keep sexual practices and/or relationship with the abuser partner. The reports show that the “marital rape” occurs both by fear of the aggression and as a consequence of the very aggression:

he forces me to have sex with himI take it because I'm afraid… (sheltered in 2006).

This study also reveals multiple and repeated violence, predominant among the sheltered women. Many women reported a history of sexual abuse since childhood or adolescence, like in the following speech:

when I was a child, I had two brothers who abused me… (sheltered in 2006)

I had no childhood… I was raped by an uncle at 8, and later by other uncle, when I was 12 years old… my father has already tried to abuse me… (sheltered in 2010)

Sexual abuse, fear of aggression, gender issues, among other elements of vulnerability of these woman also exposes them to undesired pregnancies. A study held in the northeast of Brazil found that 32.4% of the unintended pregnancies occur among women victims of gender violence. The factors associated with this are the inefficient use of contraceptives, partner's disapproval attitudes and partner's refusal to use contraceptives, also constituting a form of violence, since women in violent relationships have no control over the sexual intercourse she has3333. Azevêdo ACC, Araújo TV, Valongueiro S, Ludermir AB. Intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy: prevalence and associated factors. Cad Saude Publica 2013; 29(12):2394-2404., thus corroborating the present study, as can be seen in these statements:

my husband didn't allow me to use any birth control measure… neither the condom, nor the pills… (sheltered in 2006)

he forced me to take some medicine to cause the abortion… but I didn't lose the child… (sheltered in 2004)

Added to this scenario the multiple experiences of violence during pregnancy, which exposes the women and the child they are expecting to numerous risky situations. Ribeiro et al.3434. Ribeiro MR, Silva AA, E Alves MT, Batista RF, Rocha LM, Schraiber LB, Medeiros NL, Costa DC, Bettiol H, Barbieri MA. Psychological violence against pregnant women in a prenatal care cohort: rates and associated factors in São Luís, Brazil. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2014; 14:66. report that violence during pregnancy is more common than diseases routinely investigated in prenatal care (preeclampsia and diabetes) and that the most common form of violence is the psychological violence (41.6%). Moreover, violence triples the chance of pregnant women performing inadequate prenatal3535. Viellas EF, Gama SGN, Carvalho ML, Pinto LW. Fatores associados à agressão física em gestantes e os desfechos negativos no recém-nascido. J Pediatr 2013; 89(1):83-90.. The women seen in the shelter reaffirm these findings:

in one pregnancy I even lost the baby, and in the other he broke my arm… (sheltered in 2005)

my son was born with epilepsy because he had battered me… in my last pregnancy, he didn't even allow me to go to the consultations… (sheltered in 2006)

I was hospitalized more than 20 times in my last pregnancy because of the attacks … he also would not let me go to the prenatal consultations (sheltered in 2006)

Thus, the occurrence of mental disorders as well as the use of legal or illegal mind-altering drugs (alcohol, tobacco and marijuana) is common among sheltered women, so that drugs use and post-traumatic stress disorder are prevalent among women who suffer sexual or psychological violence, or physical abuse3636. Quitete B, Paulino B, Hauck F, Aguiar-Nemer AS, Silva-Fonseca VA. Transtorno de estresse pós-traumático e uso de drogas ilícitas em mulheres encarceradas no Rio de Janeiro. Rev psiquiatr clín 2012; 39(2):43-47.,3737. Illangasekare S, Burke J, Chander G, Gielen. The syndemic effects of intimate partner violence, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse on depression among low-income urban women. J Urban Health 2013; 90(5):934-947.. Currently, among low-income urban women, a triad of co-occurrence of health conditions has been described, the SAVA syndemic, which refers to the use of hard drugs, the occurrence of intimate partner violence, and HIV/AIDS, being strongly associated with depression, even if the woman is provided social support3737. Illangasekare S, Burke J, Chander G, Gielen. The syndemic effects of intimate partner violence, HIV/AIDS, and substance abuse on depression among low-income urban women. J Urban Health 2013; 90(5):934-947..

The increased use of tobacco and alcohol, found in the study, has also been presented as a direct consequence of the situation of violence experienced by these women1010. Dantas BM, Méllo RP. Posicionamentos críticos e éticos sobre a violência contra as mulheres. Psicol Soc 2008; 20(spe):78-86.,2828. Sonego M, Gandarillas A, Zorrilla B, Lasheras L, Pires M, Anes A, Ordobás M. Unperceived intimate partner violence and women's health. Gac Sanit 2013; 27(5):440-446.. Women may consume alcohol and other drugs in an attempt to “self-medicate” the pain and discomfort arising from living with violent and traumatic situations3838. Zilberman ML, Blume SB. Violência Doméstica e Abuso de Álcool e outras Drogas. Rev. Bras. Psiq. 2005; 27(2):51-55..

Blasco-Ros et al.3939. Blasco-Ros C, Sánchez-Lorente S, Martinez M. Recovery from depressive symptoms, state anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder in women exposed to physical and psychological, but not to psychological intimate partner violence alone: A longitudinal study. BMC Psychiatry 2010; 10:98. report that women who suffer associated psychological and physics violence have greater potential to leave the situation of violence and are, consequently, more likely to recover mental health. Kernic et al.4040. Kernic MA, Holt VL, Stoner JA, Wolf ME, Rivara FP. Resolution of depression among victims of intimate partner violence: is cessation of violence enough? Violence Vict 2003; 18(2):115-129. added that the reduction in the symptoms of mental disorders is associated with the cessation of violence. Thus, sheltering seems to be an effective measure to improve the issues related to mental and physical suffering of women victims of violence.

Yet another school of thought about these women's sheltering and mental health states that, while the shelters protect them, by being locations of secretive address, they also generate many losses (home, property, family life, and employment), reinforce the ideation that the aggressor can take some attitude of revenge and retaliation against the woman who has denounced, and reveal the inefficiency of the government in providing answers to security, thus reaffirming the offender's “omnipotence” and exempting the State from the guarantee of the right to come and go4141. Silveira LP. Serviço de atendimento a mulheres vítimas de violência. In: Diniz GS, Silveira LP, Mirim LA, organizadores. Vinte e cinco anos de respostas brasileiras em violência contra a mulher: Alcances e Limites. São Paulo: Coletivo Feminista, Sexualidade e Saúde; 2006. p. 45-77.,4242. Garcia LP, Freitas LRS, Hofelmann DA. Avaliação do impacto da Lei Maria da Penha sobre a mortalidade de mulheres por agressões no Brasil, 2001-2011. Epidemiol Serv Saúde 2013; 22(3):383-394..

This study indicates that major changes have occurred in the care for women sheltered in the state of Ceará, but there is still insufficient recorded information concerning the physical and psychological consequences of the assault(s). Thus, an specialized service and a well-trained, multidisciplinary, and inter-institutional team that guarantees care and proper arrangements are not enough3131. Prates PL. Violência doméstica e de gênero: perfil sociodemográfico e psicossocial de mulheres abrigadas [dissertação]. São Paulo: Universidade de São Paulo; 2007.,4343. Passos HR. Conhecendo a rede de apoio a mulher vítima de violência do município de Belo Horizonte [tese]. Belo Horizonte: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; 2010.; it takes a reorganization of the services, with changes in the way assistance is provided, and greater involvement of the multidisciplinary team in the monitoring of women and in developing actions for violence prevention2020. Alves ES, Oliveira DLLC, Maffacciolli R. Repercussões da Lei Maria da Penha no enfrentamento da violência doméstica em Porto Alegre. Rev Gaúcha Enferm 2012; 33(3):141-147..

The lack of studies in the health area; losses of results due to changes that have occurred in women's admission forms in the shelter; the lack of standardization in filling the forms that contain numerous qualitative components; besides the absence of a healthcare professional during the initial assistance, and the very factors that attend the sectional studies are elements that contributed to the limitation of this study.

Conclusion

A few changes have occurred in the health profile of women victims of domestic violence assisted by the State after the MPL. Relevant changes have occurred in the standard of care offered, such as increased investigation, development and registration of activities related to health; however, there is still scarce research on the physical and psychological repercussions of the aggressions suffered by the women.

It is suggested the inclusion of professionals in the staff of the shelter unit, who are able to contribute to the women's assistance, bearing in mind the physical effects of the assault and the empowerment of women about their health through health education and citizenship practices.

Referências

  • 1
    Sá SD, Werlang BSG. Personalidade de mulheres vítimas de violência doméstica: uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Contextos Clínicos 2013; 6(2):106-116.
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Publication Dates

  • Publication in this collection
    Dec 2016

History

  • Received
    25 May 2015
  • Reviewed
    23 Sept 2015
  • Accepted
    25 Sept 2015
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