Healthcare practices for users suffering from violence: from invisibility to comprehensive (un)care

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate practices of health professionals for users undergoing violence from perspective of comprehensive care. This study was based on a qualitative and descriptive research on graduate-level and technical health professionals who work in the Family Health Strategy programme in a northeastern municipality of Rio Grande do Sul. Data were collected by means of semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic mode. Results showed that these professionals do not utilize comprehensiveness to guide their care practices with users undergoing violence. Instead, they still work according to the biomedical model in which intervention is based on referring care to other sectors and the treatment plan.The study highlights the need for more appropriation and further discussion on practices regarding violence guided by the principle of comprehensiveness within the Family Healthcare team.

Estratégias de gerenciamento na Atenção Primária à Saúde em territórios de vulnerabilidade social expostos à violência

“…It is noteworthy that this bond extends to everyone and without distinction; therefore, this care is directed to the attacked and the aggressor, and in turn there is no need for professional judgment, but guidance when facing violent situations. When rethinking professional practice and after their experiences permeated by violence, professionals understand that their actions are not limited to the care of diseases, which is in line with one of the guiding principles of the FHS of comprehensive care, and is relevant for expanding cultural aspects of social life and family context (23) .…”

“…Even so, there is a gap in the literature with regard to protocols, team protection, as well as organization of work processes, as described in a study which addresses political fragility and little institutional involvement, conferring the need for public policies aimed at actions to prevent and confront violence, be it in any aspect (23) .…”