Domestic violence has multiple repercussions on women's health and raises a challenging agenda for health professionals in Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS). The aim of this study was to analyze how health professionals treat these women, problematizing the notion of acolhimento (receptiveness or openness to patients). A qualitative ethnographic research approach was used with health professionals from a primary care unit (PHU) in Matinhos, Paraná State, Brazil. The study revealed care that was focused on: (1) biologizing principles, with a focus on physical lesions and medicalization and (2) dialogue, active listening, psychosocial questions, and establishment of ties, especially featuring community health agents in this approach. The limited official local structure for handling domestic violence justifies treatment oriented by the grammar of acolhimento, recommended by the SUS, described in the literature, and verbalized in the PHU, but rarely problematized. This article thus proposed to contribute to this debate, not by establishing prescriptions for action, but by raising questions and mainly highlighting and translating the voices of those who deal with this challenge on a daily basis.
Domestic Violence; Violence Against Women; Gender and Health; User Embracement