The practice of family health strategy workers when caring for women in gender violence situations

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to describe the practice of Family Health Strategy workers when dealing with women in gender violence situations. It is a qualitative study, conducted with 25 healthcare workers from three Family Health Strategy units in a municipality of the state of Bahia, Brazil. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview and analyzed based on the discourse analysis method. The results yielded two empirical categories: expression of violence against women due to gender issues, with display of physical and psychological violence by a spouse, and strategies to face up gender violence. The second category displayed that the unit’s actions that do not contemplate gender issues and that referrals to assistance services do not receive counter-referrals. We emphasize the need for Family Health Strategy staff to receive qualification for acting in gender violence situations, and for public management to promote a network structure for assistance services.