Violence caused by an intimate partner in users of Primary Health Care: prevalence and associated factors

ABSTRACT

Violence caused by an intimate partner is recognized worldwide as a public health problem. It was investigated the prevalence and factors associated with this kind of violence in 470 women users of Primary Health Care, in a municipality of the Metropolitan Region of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais. This is a cross-sectional study, using frequency distributions and Chi-square test of several variables and final logistic regression. The results indicate that violence against women is a high frequency phenomenon and can be associated to low education and alcohol consumption. Primary Health Care is one of the most required places by women in situation of violence. Therefore, is fundamental that health professionals become involved in combating violence against women.

KEYWORDS
Violence against women; Domestic violence; Battered women; Spouse abuse; Primary Health Care