Domestic violence: possibilities and limitations in coping

Abstract

This qualitative study assesses how women, in situations of domestic violence and examined at the Institute of Forensic Medicine, deal with this adversity and identifies protection strategies to cope with it, considering the support required and obtained from their relational and institutional environments. Ten women were interviewed and the data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. Search for help primarily occurs in the women's social milieu, with family and friends and health and legal services being sought. In such a quest, established bonds may either become an obstacle to coping and make these women vulnerable to violence or protect and strengthen them during coping. In the identification of these women's social and health needs, the aggravating circumstances of violence are only superficially addressed by professionals. New strategies to implement professional actions should be devised in order to provide integral and humanized care.

The Significant Social Networks of Women Who Have Resided in Shelters

“…Hence, the company, listening, support and advice were present in the relation with friends. In line with these data, studies (Estrada Pineda et al, 2012;Lettiere & Nakano, 2011;Santi et al, 2010) show that, in the entire extra-family network, the network that is most used to cope with the violence is the friendship network, mainly in terms of emotional support and social company.…”

“…(P7) With regard to the access to new contacts and the consequent forwarding to other services, studies have shown that, when attending to women in situations of violence, in general, the health professionals' role is to treat what is related to their practice, that is, the visible signs of the violence (Dutra & Villela, 2012;Lettiere & Nakano, 2011). In the statement above, the nurse offered more than apparent (cuts and injuries) care, leading to the forwarding to the city's social service secretary, in a sensitive and welcoming manner, which is why she was part of the participant's network map.…”

“…In that sense, among the strategies used, both the search for precincts and referral centers for women's care can be mentioned, as well as the search for help from people in their social networks. As regards the search for the social networks, in the context of violence against women, studies show that relatives are often the first persons called upon in search of help (Lettiere & Nakano, 2011;Santi, Nakano, & Lettiere, 2010). Besides the search for relatives, other studies indicate the search for friends, neighbors and colleagues, besides psychologists, social workers and religious representatives (Estrada Pineda, Olaizola Herrero, & Rodríguez Díaz, 2012;Santos & Moré, 2011).…”

Perfil das ocorrências policiais de violência contra a mulher

“…Thus, we again emphasize the need for multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary care to address this form of violence. (10) Regarding the forms of violence against women, unlike other studies were psychological violence predominated, followed by physical and sexual, (4,5,13) we identified physical violence in almost half of the cases analyzed (n=431, 47. 8%).…”

“…As a way to express themselves, women reported that the slowness of the lawsuits leaves them insecure about the situation they face. (3,4) In this sense, unintentionally, the system contributes to the victimization by minimizing the seriousness of the facts, giving little importance to cases of violence, and causing the withdrawal of the lawsuits due to the delay in applying the law.…”