Perceptions of professionals in an intersectorial network about the assistance of women in situation of violence

Abstract

The study aimed to know how the professionals working with the assistance of women in violent situation in an intersectorial network perceive the assistance. Thirty interviews were carried out with professionals of the health sector, social work, public security and legal system located in a mid-sized city of Sao Paulo State, Brazil. Using thematic analysis the results were classified in five categories: How women who suffer violence are perceived? Prejudices of the professionals. How the professionals perceive the assistance they provide? Emotions and feelings of the professional during the assistance. Barriers and progress related to the assistance. There are fragmented and stereotyped perceptions and the need to improve the existing structures, to prepare and to care of the professionals in order to humanize the assistance. To create special services and to invest in prevention is fundamental since there is a huge distance between the public policy proposals and the reality.