Sexual violence against women: nurses’ practice

Rosilene Santos Baptista; Olga Benário Batista de Melo Chaves; Inacia Sátiro Xavier de França; Francisco Stélio de Sousa; Michelly Guedes de Oliveira; Carla Carolina da Silva Leite

doi:10.15253/2175-6783.2015000200010

Authors

Rosilene Santos Baptista Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Olga Benário Batista de Melo Chaves Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Inacia Sátiro Xavier de França Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Francisco Stélio de Sousa Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Michelly Guedes de Oliveira Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.
Carla Carolina da Silva Leite Universidade Estadual da Paraíba. Campina Grande, PB, Brazil.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15253/2175-6783.2015000200010

Keywords:

Sexual Violence, Violence Against Women, Nursing, Women’s Health.

Abstract

Objective: to investigate the nurses’ practice regarding sexual violence against women. Methods: quantitative cross-sectional research conducted with 27 nurses in six Primary Care Units from each of the health districts of a city in the countryside of the Northeast Region of Brazil. Data collection took place from October to November 2011 through a questionnaire. Results: among the respondents, 96.3% recognized that it is their role to investigate it; 22.2% of nurses questioned their patients about the violence; 85.1% treated suspected and/or confirmed cases; and 15.8% used some protocol during the service. Only 18.5% felt able to treat cases of sexual violence. Conclusion: there were difficulties for the referral of cases and treatment recommendations. Thus, in-service training and dissemination of educational/informative material are mandatory.