Family health strategy personnel’s representational structures regarding domestic violence against older adults

Abstract

Conducted from May to July 2012, this exploratory, quali-quantitative, descriptive study drew on the structural approach to Social Representations Theory to examine health professionals’ representational structures regarding domestic violence against older adults. The study participants were 81 professionals from 16 family health care facilities in Jequié, Bahia State, Brazil. Data was collected by the technique of free evocation of words, and semi-structured interview. Evocations were analyzed using EVOC 2003 software, and the interviews were analyzed using thematic content technique. The representational structures identified were characteristically negative, underpinned by dimensions that shows professionals’ confrontation of domestic violence against the elderly identified at Family Health Care facilities. Knowledge of these representations gives professionals and managers a sense of direction in developing strategies for promotion and prevention in the family and social contexts.