Violence at work and depressive symptoms in primary health care teams: a cross-sectional study in Brazil.

PURPOSE: Implementation of primary care has long been a priority in low- and middle-income countries. Violence at work may hamper progress in this field. Hence, we examined the associations between violence at work and depressive symptoms/major depression in primary care teams (physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, and community health workers). METHODS: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil. We assessed a random sample of Family Health Program teams. We investigated depressive symptoms and major depression using the nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and exposure to violence at work in the previous 12 months using a standardized questionnaire. Associations between exposure to violence and depressive symptoms/major depression were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: Of 3141 eligible workers, 2940 (93 %) completed the interview. Of these, 36.3 % (95 % CI 34.6-38.1) presented intermediate depressive symptoms, and 16 % (95 % CI 14.6-17.2), probable major depression. The frequencies of exposure to the different types of violence at work were: insults (44.9 %), threats (24.8 %), physical aggression (2.3 %), and witnessing violence (29.5 %). These exposures were strongly and progressively associated with depressive symptoms (adjusted odds ratio 1.67 for exposure to one type of violence; and 5.10 for all four types), and probable major depression (adjusted odds ratio 1.84 for one type; and 14.34 for all four types). CONCLUSION: Primary care workers presenting depressive symptoms and those who have experienced violence at work should be assisted. Policy makers should prioritize strategies to prevent these problems, since they can threaten primary care sustainability.

The Link Between Community-Based Violence and Intimate Partner Violence: the Effect of Crime and Male Aggression on Intimate Partner Violence Against Women.

Both intimate partner violence (IPV) and community violence are prevalent globally, and each is associated with serious health consequences. However, little is known about their potential links or the possible benefits of coordinated prevention strategies. Using aggregated data on community violence from the São Paulo State Security Department (INFOCRIM) merged with WHO multi-country study on women's health and domestic violence data, random intercept models were created to assess the effect of crime on women's probability of experiencing IPV. The association between IPV and male aggression (measured by women's reports of their partner's fights with other men) was examined using logistic regression models. We found little variation in the likelihood of male IPV perpetration related to neighborhood crime level but did find an increased likelihood of IPV experiences among women whose partners were involved in male-to-male violence. Emerging evidence on violence prevention has suggested some promising avenues for primary prevention that address common risk factors for both perpetration of IPV and male interpersonal violence. Strategies such as early identification and effective treatment of emotional disorders, alcohol abuse prevention and treatment, complex community-based interventions to change gender social norms and social marketing campaigns designed to modify social and cultural norms that support violence may work to prevent simultaneously male-on-male aggression and IPV. Future evaluations of these prevention strategies should simultaneously assess the impact of interventions on IPV and male interpersonal aggression.

Psychological violence against pregnant women in a prenatal care cohort: rates and associated factors in São Luís, Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Violence against pregnant women has been associated with gestational and perinatal disorders. Psychological violence is the type least investigated and its associated factors have been little studied. The present study was conducted in order to estimate prevalence rates and analyze the factors associated with exclusive and recurrent psychological violence in the municipality of São Luís, Brazil. METHODS: Data regarding 982 pregnant women, aged from 14 to 45 years, interviewed in 2010 and 2011 in a prenatal cohort were used. A self-applied questionnaire was used to screen for violence. Pregnant women submitted to physical and sexual violence were excluded from the analysis of factors associated with exclusive psychological violence. Prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by a Poisson regression model with a hierarchical approach at three levels. At level 1 of the theoretical-conceptual model, we analyzed demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and variables that express gender inequalities; at level 2, we analyzed social support received by the women, and at level 3, the life experiences of the pregnant women. RESULTS: Prevalence rate of exclusive psychological violence was 41.6% and of recurrent violence was 32.6%. Exclusive psychological violence was associated with pregnant women's age of 14 to 18 years (PR: 1.32 95% CI: 1.04 - 1.70), pregnant women's schooling superior to that of her intimate partner (PR: 1.54 95% CI: 1.09 - 2.16), inadequate social affective support/positive social interaction (PR: 1.34 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.62), use of illicit drugs by the pregnant women (PR: 1.80 95% CI: 1.16 - 2.81) and having had six or more intimate partners in life (PR: 1.52 95% CI: 1.18 - 1.96). Recurrent exclusive psychological violence was associated with inadequate social affective support/positive social interaction (PR: 1.47 95% CI: 1.15 - 1.87), use of illicit drugs by the pregnant women (PR: 2,28 95% CI: 1,40 - 3,71) and having had six or more intimate partners in life (PR: 1.47 95% CI: 1.06 - 2.03). CONCLUSIONS: Psychological violence was a common phenomenon in this population of pregnant women that was associated with gender inequalities, inadequate social support and illicit drug use and should be routinely investigated during prenatal visits at health care services.

"I Am from the Ghetto, I Am Black, I Live in the Slum and They Think: Why Bother with Her?" - Racism in Seeking Help Experiences for Domestic Violence in Brazil.

Despite the majority of Brazilians identifying as black, racial disparities are significant. Black women encounter disproportionate difficulties, with greater rates of homicide, unemployment, and poverty. After the Maria da Penha Law (2006), which is regarded as one of the most comprehensive laws to address domestic violence, there has been a notable increase in femicide among black women and a decrease in cases among white women. This paper aims to analyze the differences between white and black survivors of domestic violence in terms of the access and support they received from the violence against women multi agency network in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. To this end, in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with nine white and nine black women who were seeking help in the justice system in June of 2018. The IDI were analyzed under critical path and structural racism theories, in order to understand how inequality markers such as race might affect the institutional response to the survivor's help seeking. The results indicated that black women received less information and support while seeking institutional help, as they faced more obstacles compared to white women. Among the interviewees critical paths, the access to the services was denied by providers 13 times for black women in contrast with 1 access denial for white women-also considering cases that discontinued the needed assistance due to institutional violence. The observed obstacles lived by black women in the multiagency network not only resulted in the path for these women toward support being longer but in many cases being repeated unsuccessfully multiple times. This study concludes that thus all women face obstacles while seeking help in formal institutions, black women may face greater barriers in this path due to how structural racism is reproduced in the services that should guarantee rights.

Temporal relationship between intimate partner violence and postpartum depression in a sample of low income women.

To estimate whether there is a temporal association between Postpartum Depression (PPD) and intimate partner violence (IPV), and to assess the potential role of social support on this relationship. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2006 and March 2007 with 701 low income women who received prenatal and postpartum care in primary health care units of the public sector in São Paulo, Brazil. The Self-Report Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to assess the presence of PPD. Structured standardized questionnaires were used to assess IPV and social support. The prevalence of PPD was estimated with a 95 % confidence interval. Crude and adjusted prevalence ratios were calculated using Poisson regression to examine the association between PPD and exposure variables. Values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The prevalence of PPD was 27.9 % (95 %CI 24.6:31.2). The prevalence of psychological IPV was 38.6 %, physical IPV 23.4 %, and sexual IPV 7.1 %. The multivariate analysis showed that PPD was strongly associated with current psychological and physical/sexual violence, after controlling for confounding factors, and less so with past (prenatal or lifetime) IPV. Presence of social support was an independent protective factor for PPD. Identifying and addressing intimate partner violence, including psychological violence, in the postpartum period should be considered as part of a comprehensive approach to caring for new mothers.

An evidence-based primary health care intervention to address domestic violence against women in Brazil: a mixed method evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Health systems have a critical role in a multi-sectoral response to domestic violence against women (DVAW). However, the evidence on interventions is skewed towards high income countries, and evidence based interventions are not easily transferred to low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) where significant social, cultural and economic differences exist. We evaluated feasibility and acceptability of implementation of an intervention (HERA-Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse) to improve the response to DVAW in two primary health care clinics (PHC) in Brazil. METHODS: The study design is a mixed method process and outcome evaluation, based on training attendance records, semi-structured interviews (with 13 Primary Health Care (PHC) providers, two clinic directors and two women who disclosed domestic violence), and identification and referral data from the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAN). RESULTS: HERA was feasible and acceptable to women and PHC providers, increased providers' readiness to identify DVAW and diversified referrals outside the health system. The training enhanced the confidence and skills of PHC providers to ask directly about violence and respond to women's disclosures using a women centred, gender and human rights perspective. PHC providers felt safe and supported when dealing with DVAW because HERA emphasised clear roles and collective action within the clinical team. A number of challenges affected implementation including: differential managerial support for the Núcleo de Prevenção da Violência (Violence Prevention Nucleus-NPV) relating to the allocation of resources, monitoring progress and giving feedback; a lack of higher level institutional endorsement prioritising DVAW work; staff turnover; a lack of feedback from external support services to PHC clinics regarding DVAW cases; and inconsistent practices regarding documentation of DVAW. CONCLUSION: Training should be accompanied by system-wide institutional change including active (as opposed to passive) management support, allocation of resources to support roles within the NPV, locally adapted protocols and guidelines, monitoring progress and feedback. Communication and coordination with external support services and documentation systems are crucial and need improvement. DVAW should be prioritised within leadership and governance structures, for example, by including DVAW work as a specific commissioning goal.

Are We Asking Too Much of the Health Sector? Exploring the Readiness of Brazilian Primary Healthcare to Respond to Domestic Violence Against Women.

BACKGROUND: There is growing recognition of the health sector's potential role in addressing domestic violence (DV) against women. Although Brazil has a comprehensive policy framework on violence against women (VAW), implementation has been slow and incomplete in primary healthcare (PHC), and little is known about the implementation challenges. This paper aims to assess the readiness of two PHC clinics in urban Brazil to integrate an intervention to strengthen their DV response. METHODS: We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with health managers and health providers; a document analysis of VAW and DV policies from São Paulo and Brazil; and 2 structured facility observations. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Findings from our readiness assessment revealed gaps in both current policy and practice needing to be addressed, particularly with regards to governance and leadership, health service organisation and health workforce. DV received less political recognition, being perceived as a lower priority compared to other health issues. Lack of clear guidance from the central and municipal levels emerged as a crucial factor that weakened DV policy implementation both by providers and managers. Furthermore, responses to DV lost visibility, as they were diluted within generic violence responses. The organizational structure of the PHC system in São Paulo, which prioritised the number of consultations and household visits as the main performance indicators, was an additional difficulty in legitimising healthcare providers' time to address DV. Individual-level challenges reported by providers included lack of time and knowledge of how to respond, as well as fears of dealing with DV. CONCLUSION: Assessing readiness is critical because it helps to evaluate what services and infrastructure are already in place, also identifying obstacles that may hinder adaptation and integration of an intervention to strengthen the response to DV before implementation.

Recurrent Violence, Violence with Complications, and Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Women and Breastfeeding Duration.

Background: Few studies have investigated the association between violence against pregnant women in terms of recurrence, complications, and perpetrators of violence, and breastfeeding duration. This study verifies whether recurrent violence, violence with pregnancy complications, and intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women are associated with shorter exclusive breastfeeding up to the infant's 6th month and breastfeeding up to the 12th month of life. Materials and Methods: A cohort study with a convenience sample of 1,146 pregnant women was performed. Follow-up assessments were conducted at birth, and at 12-36 months. Survival analysis was used to verify whether recurrent violence, violence with pregnancy complications, and IPV were associated with reduced duration of exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding. Results: The adjusted Cox regression revealed no difference regarding exclusive breastfeeding duration among mothers exposed or not exposed to violence and according to who perpetrated the violence. The risk of an infant not being breastfed within the first 12 months of life increased in cases of violence before/during pregnancy (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-1.88), recurrent psychological/physical/sexual violence during pregnancy (95% CI = 1.11-1.92), recurrent psychological violence (95% CI = 1.05-1.96), and recurrent physical/sexual violence (95% CI = 1.01-2.39). Violence with pregnancy complications (95% CI = 0.94-2.22) was not associated with breastfeeding interruption. Similar risks of breastfeeding interruption were observed for IPV (95% CI = 0.96-1.87) and violence perpetrated by other family members (95% CI = 0.83-1.89). Conclusions: We observed a shorter breastfeeding duration up to 12 months of life in cases of recurrent violence.

Masculinity and soccer: gender issues in a psychosocial rehabilitation experience with men in Brazil's Federal District. / Masculinidad y fútbol: cuestiones de género en una experiencia de rehabilitación psicosocial de hombres en el Distrito Federal, Brasil.

This article presents a study of men's participation in soccer workshops at a mental health services facility (CAPS). The sport is considered a relevant practice in terms of men's sociability processes. Qualitative research was conducted at two CAPS facilities in Brasilia, Federal District from August 2017 to September 2018. Data were collected through observations of daily activities and with 10 semi-structured interviews with male participants who were selected during observations. The findings of this study demonstrate the potential of therapeutic soccer workshops for the psychosocial rehabilitation of men with mental disorders - the users of these mental health services - based on social and cultural re-insertion through an activity that materially and symbolically constructs masculinity and what it means to be a man in Brazil. As patients with mental disorders who are customarily marginalized from hegemonic masculinity, the users of CAPS services were able to access possible masculinities and reconstruct their new identities as men.

Se aborda la participación de hombres en talleres de fútbol realizados en servicios de salud mental, deporte que es considerado una práctica importante en los procesos de sociabilidad de los hombres. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa en dos servicios de salud mental del Distrito Federal de Brasilia, entre agosto de 2017 y septiembre de 2018, con observación participante de las actividades habituales de los servicios y diez entrevistas semiestructuradas a usuarios varones, seleccionados durante las actividades observadas. Los hallazgos muestran la potencialidad del taller terapéutico de fútbol en la rehabilitación psicosocial de hombres con trastornos mentales, usuarios de los servicios de salud mental, a partir de la reinserción social y cultural en una actividad material y simbólicamente constructora de la masculinidad y de lo que representa ser hombre en Brasil. Estos pacientes, por ser portadores de sufrimientos mentales, suelen ser marginados y discriminados del modelo de masculinidad hegemónica, por lo cual, al viabilizar el ejercicio de una masculinidad posible, estos usuarios pueden expresar la forma de reconstruir su nueva identidad de ser hombre.

Inversion of traditional gender roles and intimate partner violence against pregnant women.

This study analyzed the association between the inversion of traditional gender roles and exclusive psychological and physical/sexual intimate partner violence, in a cross-sectional study of Brazilian pregnant women, identified through prenatal services in the municipalities of São Luís, Maranhão State (n = 992) and Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State (n = 943). The pregnant women ranged from 12 to 45 years. Inversion of traditional gender roles was assessed by calculating differences in age, education and occupation between pregnant women and their co-residing intimate partners and identifying the largest contribution to family income. The conceptual model was tested with structural equation modeling and showed acceptable fit. The prevalence of any type of intimate partner violence was 29.8% in São Luís and 20.1% in Ribeirão Preto. In both municipalities, pregnant women were more likely to suffer exclusive psychological and physical/sexual violence when they had the highest income in the family (p < 0.005). In São Luís, physical/sexual violence was more common among women who were better educated than their partners (standardized coefficient, SC = -0.466; p = 0.007). In Ribeirão Preto, exclusive psychological violence was more frequent among women who had lower status occupations than their partners (SC = 0.236; p = 0.004). Inversion of traditional gender roles is associated with exclusive psychological and physical/sexual violence against pregnant women by their co-residing intimate partners. These findings suggest that women's empowerment at an individual level does not necessarily relieve them of intimate partner abuse in social contexts where traditional gender norms persist.

[Corporate and technological changes in São Paulo medicine in 1930]. / Mudanças corporativas e tecnológicas da medicina paulista em 1930.

Through the historical study of the corporate and technological changes experienced by doctors in São Paulo in the 1930s, we intend to identify how changes in the fields of equipment and knowledge came from the emergence of specialties, which led to corporate changes and rearrangements in the face of the dilemmas introduced by the Getúlio Vargas government and its policy of centralizing power. Connections are pointed out of a symbolic and representative order, backed by doctors considered 'old-school' and those that represented the 'new' times in medicine, evidencing the clashes between these currents vis-à-vis the specialization movement and particular landmarks in the history of São Paulo.

[Neonatal deaths in a highly vulnerable area in Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil: examining healthcare issues from women's perspective]. / Óbitos neonatais em região de alta vulnerabilidade do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil: examinando questões assistenciais na perspectiva das mulheres.

The study analyzed the life and healthcare stories of women living in the Northwest Zone of the city of Santos, São Paulo State, Brazil, who had experienced neonatal deaths between January 2015 and July 2016. The study used triangulation of data from documents from the surveillance division, field diaries from visits to services, and interviews with the women. The interviews provided the main body of empirical data, based on narratives of the women's sexual and reproductive history, prenatal care, childbirth, and the experience of neonatal death. Of the 15 eligible cases, 8 women were interviewed, 6 of whom over 30 years of age and 2 under 30 years, all African-Brazilians, natives of Santos, and working in unskilled occupations. The data yielded the following results: (1) histories of unplanned pregnancies with various gestational risk factors; (2) the women's acknowledgment that they had experienced good access to health services; (3) questions concerning the need for tests and test results, understanding of complications, explanation of treatment approaches, and referrals; (4) prematurity, present in all the cases; (5) pain during labor, abandonment, and transfer to other services due to lack of beds in the neonatal ICU; (6) lack of integration between levels of care; and (7) after the infant's death, limited approaches and little orientation on comprehensive care related to the neonatal death. In conclusion, although the prenatal care was positively rated by the women, there was no comprehensive care for them in relation to the experience of neonatal death, with dialogue and an offer of more adequate contraceptive methods given their health history, as well as counseling on the emotional distress resulting from these experiences.

O estudo analisou a trajetória de vida e de cuidado de mulheres residentes na zona noroeste do Município de Santos, São Paulo, Brasil, que passaram pela experiência de óbitos neonatais entre janeiro de 2015 a julho de 2016. Realizou-se triangulação de dados de documentos da seção de vigilância, diários de campo de visitas aos serviços e entrevistas com as mulheres. Essas constituíram o principal eixo da produção de dados empíricos, por meio de narrativas sobre a história sexual e reprodutiva, cuidado pré-natal, ao parto e a experiência do óbito neonatal. De 15 casos elegíveis, entrevistaram-se oito mulheres, seis com mais e duas com menos de 30 anos, negras, naturais de Santos, em ocupações de baixa qualificação. Como resultados do conjunto dos dados observou-se: (1) históricos de gestações não planejadas e diversos fatores de risco gestacionais; (2) reconhecimento pelas mulheres de que tiveram bom acesso aos serviços de saúde; (3) questionamentos relativos a: necessidade de exames e retornos, valorização de intercorrências, esclarecimento de condutas e encaminhamentos; (4) prematuridade, envolvida em todos os casos; (5) sobre o parto relatam dor, abandono e transferência por falta de leito em UTI neonatal; (6) falta de integração entre os níveis de atenção; e (7) após o óbito, abordagens restritas e pouco orientadas para uma atenção integral relativas ao evento do óbito neonatal. Conclui-se que embora o cuidado pré-natal tenha sido bem avaliado pelas mulheres, não se verifica, quanto à experiência do óbito neonatal, um cuidado integral para essas mulheres, com diálogo e oferta de métodos contraceptivos mais adequados ao seu histórico, ou relativamente ao sofrimento mental resultante dessas experiências.

El estudio analizó la trayectoria de vida y cuidado de mujeres, residentes en la zona noroeste del municipio de Santos, estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que pasaron por la experiencia de muertes neonatales, de enero de 2015 a julio de 2016. Se realizó una triangulación de datos con documentos de la sección de vigilancia, diarios de campo de visitas a los servicios de salud y entrevistas con las mujeres. Estas constituyeron el principal eje de la producción de datos empíricos, a través de relatos sobre su historial sexual y reproductivo, cuidado prenatal, momento del parto y experiencia de muerte neonatal. De los 15 casos elegibles, se entrevistaron a 8 mujeres, 6 con más y 2 con menos de 30 años, negras, oriundas de Santos, en ocupaciones de baja cualificación. Como resultados del conjunto de datos se observaron: (1) historiales de embarazos no deseados y diversos factores de riesgo gestacionales; (2) reconocimiento de las mujeres que tuvieron un buen acceso a los servicios de salud; (3) interrogantes relacionados con: necesidad de exámenes y seguimiento, valoración de complicaciones, aclaración de conductas y derivaciones a otros servicios; (4) prematuridad, implicada en todos los casos; (5) sobre el parto, relatan dolor, abandono y traslados por falta de camas en UCI neonatal; (6) falta de integración entre los niveles de atención; y (7) tras el fallecimiento, existen planteamientos limitados y poco orientados a una atención integral, relacionada con el evento del óbito neonatal. Se concluye que aunque el cuidado prenatal haya sido bien evaluado por las mujeres, no se verifica, en cuanto a la experiencia de la muerte neonatal, un cuidado integral hacia esas mujeres, con un diálogo y oferta de métodos contraceptivos más adecuados a su historial, o en relación al sufrimiento mental resultante de esas experiencias.

[Intimate partner sexual violence among men and women in urban Brazil, 2005]. / Violência sexual por parceiro íntimo entre homens e mulheres no Brasil urbano, 2005.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of intimate partner sexual violence among men and women of the Brazilian urban population and factors associated to it. METHODS: The data analyzed is part of the study conducted between 1998 and 2005 among urban populations in Brazil. The data was obtained by means of a questionnaire applied to a representative sample of 5.040 individuals, men and women 16 to 65 years of age. Descriptive analysis was undertaken with weighted data, utilizing F design-based tests, with 5% significance. RESULTS: The global prevalence of intimate partner sexual violence was 8.6%, being predominant among women (11.8% versus 5.1%). Women consistently reported higher rates of violence then men, except in cases involving homo/bisexual partners. The rate verified for male homo/bisexuals was significantly greater than that found among male heterosexuals, but this difference in rates was not significant among women. The black population, irrespective of sex, referred more violence than the white population. The lower the income and years of formal education, the greater the rates of violence. However, men from poorer regions referred more violence, but this did not occur with respect to women. Diverse situations with respect to work, use of condoms, lower age at first intercourse and number of partners during the last five years differed significantly among women, but not among men. For both men and women sexual violence was associated with being separated or divorced, having had STDs, self -evaluation of being at risk for HIV, but was not associated with testing positive for HIV. CONCLUSIONS: The high magnitude of sexual violence as well as female surtax is confirmed. Violence as a result of gender conflicts, that pervades social stratification and ethnic groups is reiterated. As to the Aids epidemic, sexual violence is an important factor to be taken into consideration when discussing the feminization of the population affected by the disease.

[Health administrators and public policies to deal with gender violence against women in São Paulo, Brazil]. / Gestores de saúde e o enfrentamento da violência de gênero contra as mulheres: as políticas públicas e sua implementação em São Paulo, Brasil.

The study focuses on policies to deal with violence against women in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The objectives were to map the public policies and the proposals for institutional organization of a network of comprehensive care, in addition to analyzing the implementation of these policies, highlighting the health sector, with reports by administrators and policymakers. The study addresses the relationship between management practice and the public policy provisions, the weight of administrators' personal values and perspectives, and the weight of the socially dominant discourse in decision-making for implementation of these policies. Data were produced through semi-structured interviews with 32 administrators working at different levels in the institutional organization of the Municipal Health Department, including some policymakers in the state and national scenarios. The body of data were submitted to thematic content analysis, examining each of the interviews and relating them to the literature and conceptual framework. The study concludes that health administrators, as agents of practices, are influenced by the prevailing structures and beliefs and reference to their social and historical context for decision-making. However, when they relate to such structures, they are also capable of intervening in the ways care is produced and provided for women in situations of violence, especially by addressing the training and awareness-raising processes and new references concerning recognition of women's rights as human rights.

Estudam-se as políticas de enfrentamento da violência contra as mulheres no Município de São Paulo, Brasil. Os objetivos foram mapear as políticas públicas e as propostas de organização institucional de uma rede de atenção integral, assim como conhecer suas implementações nos serviços, com destaque ao setor de saúde, pelos relatos de gestores e formuladores da política, trabalhando-se a relação da prática da gestão com o enunciado nas políticas públicas, o peso dos valores e da perspectiva pessoal dos gestores e o peso do discurso socialmente dominante nas tomadas de decisão para a implementação destas políticas. A produção dos dados foi realizada por intermédio de entrevistas semiestruturadas com 32 gestores operando em diferentes níveis da organização institucional da Secretaria Municipal da Saúde, dentre eles alguns formuladores das políticas nos cenários estadual e nacional. A análise desse córpus de dados foi temática de conteúdo, examinando-se cada uma das entrevistas e relacionando-as com a literatura e referencial conceitual utilizado. Conclui-se que os gestores, como agentes de práticas, são influenciados pelas estruturas e crenças vigentes, pela referência ao contexto sociohistórico a que estão inseridos para tomadas de decisão de gestão. Porém, são também capazes de, ao relacionar-se com tais estruturas, interferir nas formas de produzir e ofertar cuidado às mulheres em situação de violência, em especial ao aproximarem-se de processos de formação e sensibilização e de novos referenciais acerca do reconhecimento dos direitos das mulheres como direitos humanos.

En este trabajo se estudian las políticas de lucha frente la violencia contra las mujeres en el municipio de São Paulo, Brasil. Los objetivos fueron mapear las políticas públicas y las propuestas de organización institucional de una red de atención integral, así como conocer sus implementaciones en los servicios, destacando el sector de salud, por los relatos de gestores y formuladores de políticas, trabajando la relación de la práctica de gestión con el enunciado en las políticas públicas, el peso de valores y la perspectiva personal de los gestores, así como el peso del discurso socialmente dominante en las tomas de decisión para la implementación de estas políticas. La producción de datos se realizó mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas con 32 gestores operando en diferentes niveles de la organización institucional dentro de la Secretaría Municipal de Salud, entre ellos, algunos formuladores de las políticas en los escenarios estatal y nacional. El análisis de ese corpus de datos fue la temática de contenido, examinando cada una de las entrevistas y relacionándolas con la literatura y marco de referencia conceptual utilizado. Se concluye que los gestores, como agentes de prácticas, son influenciados por las estructuras y creencias vigentes, por la referencia al contexto sociohistórico en el que están insertados para las tomas de decisión en la gestión. No obstante, son también capaces de, al relacionarse con tales estructuras, interferir en las formas de producir y ofertar cuidado a las mujeres en situación de violencia, en especial al aproximarse a procesos de formación y sensibilización, así como nuevos marcos de referencia acerca del reconocimiento de los derechos de las mujeres como parte de los derechos humanos.

Violência sexual contra mulheres por parceiro íntimo e desigualdade de gênero na voz dos profissionais da Atenção Primária à Saúde / Violencia sexual contra las mujeres por parte de la pareja íntima y desigualdad de género en la voz de los profesionales de la Atención Primaria de Salud / Sexual violence against women by intimate partner and gender inequality in the voice of Primary Health Care professionals

É difícil reconhecer o sexo forçado vivido nas relações sexuais no âmbito doméstico como violência. Há também uma imprecisão entre a violência, tal como no sexo forçado, e a desigualdade de gênero, como na aceitação do dever marital. Buscou-se compreender o que profissionais da Atenção Primária pensam sobre essas duas experiências, como interpretam relatos das mulheres e o que fazem sobre isso. Entrevistados, os profissionais dizem que sexo forçado ou sexo sem consentimento explícito são ambos violência, e assim devem ser nomeados. Agindo desse modo, eles pensam esclarecer suas pacientes acerca dos direitos das mulheres. No entanto, no dia a dia, nem todos o fazem e ninguém reconheceu ou nomeou a aceitação do dever marital como desigualdade de gênero. Conclui-se que, se a violência está presente como questão, sua distinção quanto à desigualdade de gênero ainda é um desafio.(AU)

Es difícil reconocer el sexo forzado vivido en las relaciones sexuales en el ámbito doméstico como violencia. Hay también una imprecisión entre la violencia, tal como en el sexo forzado, y la desigualdad de género, como en la aceptación del deber conyugal. Se buscó entender lo que los profesionales de la atención primaria piensan sobre esas dos experiencias, cómo interpretan los relatos de las mujeres y qué hacen sobre eso. Al ser entrevistados, los profesionales decían que el sexo forzado o el sexo sin consentimiento explícito son violencia y deben ser denominados como tal. Actuando así, ellos piensan aclarar a sus pacientes los derechos de las mujeres. Sin embargo, en el cotidiano no todos lo hacen y ninguno reconoció o nombró la aceptación del deber conyugal como desigualdad de género. Se concluyó que la violencia está presente como cuestión y que su distinción con relación a la igualdad de género todavía es un desafío.(AU)

Studies show how difficult it is to recognize what is experienced in sexual relationships within households. There is an inaccuracy between violence as in the forced sex, and gender inequality as in the acceptance of the marital duty. We aimed to understand what health care providers think about these two experiences, how they interpret women's reports and what they do about it. Interviewed, the professionals say that both forced sex and sex with no explicit consent are violence and so they should be named. By doing so, professionals intend to enlighten their patients about women's rights. However, in everyday life not everyone does and no one recognized or named marital duty as gender inequality. We conclude that if violence is present as an issue, its distinction in relation to gender inequality is still a challenge.(AU)

Atenção primária à saúde e os serviços especializados de atendimento a mulheres em situação de violência: expectativas e desencontros na voz dos profissionais / Primary health care and the specialized care services to women in situation of violence: expectations and mismatches in the voice of professionals

Resumo O trabalho em rede tem papel central na assistência a mulheres em situação de violência. Este estudo analisa as diferentes perspectivas desse trabalho para profissionais da Atenção Primária e profissionais de serviços especializados nas áreas de assistência social, assistência jurídica e segurança pública, na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil. Realizaram-se entrevistas semi-estruturadas com 16 profissionais dos serviços especializados e 46 da saúde. Os eixos para a análise temática foram: o que os profissionais sabem e pensam sobre os demais serviços; sua atuação a partir disso; e suas expectativas. Os dados revelaram conhecimento insuficiente sobre os distintos serviços, resultando em dificuldades comunicativas, bem como em encaminhamentos equivocados pautados em idealizações sobre como deveria atuar o outro serviço. Concluímos que cada setor é bastante autônomo e seus serviços partem de seu próprio campo de atuação para definir aquilo que seria melhor para a mulher. O conjunto funciona mais como uma trama de serviços do que como uma rede.

Abstract Networking plays a central role in assisting women in situations of violence. This study analyzes how different the work perspectives are for Primary Care professionals and specialized services professionals in the areas of social and law assistance, and public security in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 16 professionals from specialized services and 46 from the health sector. The axes for a thematic analysis were: what professionals know and think about services other than their own; their performance based on that; and their expectations. The findings revealed insufficient knowledge of the different services, resulting in communication difficulties as well as wrong referrals to other services, based on how other services would ideally work. We concluded that each sector is autonomous and its services start from its own field of action to define what would be best for women. The set works more like a mesh of services than a network.

[Injecting drug users and antiretroviral therapy: perceptions of pharmacy teams]. / Usuários de drogas injetáveis e terapia anti-retroviral: percepções das equipes de farmácia.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the perceptions of pharmacy teams about their role in the healthcare assistance challenges and adherence to antiretroviral therapy by injecting drug users living with HIV/AIDS. METHODS: Qualitative study through focus groups and thematic discourse analysis of pharmacists, technicians and assistants with more than six months of experience with medication supply, in 15 assisting units for STD/AIDS in the city of São Paulo, in 2002. RESULTS: Three groups were formed, totaling 29 participants, originating from 12 out of the 15 existing services, and including 12 university level professionals and 17 high-school level professionals. The groups concluded that the pharmacy has an important role in the antiretroviral drug supply, which is reflected in the treatment adherence, because trust-based relationships can be built up through their procedures. In spite of this, they pointed out that such building-up does not take place through excessively bureaucratic activities. This has negative repercussions for all patients, especially for injecting drug users, considered "difficult people". Such concept sums up their behavior: they are supposed to be confused and incapable to adhere to treatment, and have limited understanding. Staff members, however, affirm they treat these patients equally. They do not realize that, by this acting, the specific needs of injecting drug users may become invisible in the service. There is also the possibility that stigmatizing stereotypes may be created, resulting in yet another barrier to the work on adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Although the pharmacy is recommended as a potentially favorable place to listen to and form bonds with users, the results show objective and subjective obstacles to render it suitable for the work on adherence.

[Invisibility of drug use and support for professionals of the AIDS services]. / Invisibilidade do uso de drogas e a assistência de profissionais dos serviços de Aids.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the influence of conceptions of health professionals on the care given to HIV/AIDS patients using drugs. METHODS: Qualitative study based on semi-structured interviews with 22 professionals of different levels from two specialized STD/AIDS public services of the city of São Paulo was conducted in 2002. The interviews were recorded and submitted to a thematic analysis. RESULTS: Professionals reported difficulties in identifying drug users among their patients, indicating the invisibility of the issue. They find drug users more difficult to treat, because they disturb the service and do not comply with treatment. Although they acknowledge the special needs of users, and that it is important to deal with drug use, health professionals believe that these issues are not their responsibility. Professionals showed personal and technical limits in handling these cases, showing the importance of their lack of specific capacity building. Thus, they recommend the creation of specialized services for this care, recognizing their own services as inappropriate. Although they were aware of the harm reduction project, there was a little participation in it. CONCLUSIONS: Technical, ideological and personal elements such as beliefs, values and affective/emotional dimensions were relevant to enhance or refuse to develop more specific bonds with drug user patients. The conceptions on drug use may interfere in the development of a better care and equity in health care.

[Violence against women attending public health services in the metropolitan area of São Paulo, Brazil]. / Violência contra mulheres entre usuárias de serviços públicos de saúde da Grande São Paulo.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of (physical, psychological, and sexual) violence against women by an intimate partner and non-partner perpetrators among users of public health services and to compare these women's perception of having ever experienced violence with reports of violence in their medical records in the different services studied. METHODS: The study was conducted in 19 health services, selected as a convenience sample and grouped into nine research sites, in metropolitan area of São Paulo from 2001 to 2002. Questionnaires on having ever experienced violence in their lifetime and in the last 12 months and perpetrators were applied to a sample of 3,193 users aged 15 to 49. A total of 3,051 medical records were reviewed to verify the notification of violence. Comparative analyses were performed by Anova with multiple comparisons and Chi-square test followed by its partition. RESULTS: The following prevalences were found: any type of violence 76% (95% CI: 74.2; 77.8); psychological 68.9% (95% CI: 66.4; 71.4); physical 49.6% (95% CI: 47.7; 51.4); physical and/or sexual 54.8% (95% CI: 53.1; 56.6), and sexual 26% (95% CI: 24.4; 28.0). The prevalence of physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime was 45.3% (95% CI: 43.5; 47.1), and by non-partners was 25.7% (95% CI: 25.0; 26.5). Only 39.1% of women reporting any episode of violence perceived they had ever experienced violence in their lifetime and 3.8% of them had any reports of violence in their medical records. The prevalences were significantly different between sites as well as the proportion of perception and reports of violence in medical records. CONCLUSIONS: The expected high magnitude of the event and its invisibility was confirmed by low rate of reports in the medical records. Few perceived abuses as violence. Further studies are recommended taking into account the diversity of service users.

[Prevalence of intimate partner violence against women in regions of Brazil]. / Prevalência da violência contra a mulher por parceiro íntimo em regiões do Brasil.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the results from the "WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence", on the prevalence of intimate partner violence against women found in Brazil. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was part of the "WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against women", which was carried out in ten countries between 2000 and 2003. All the countries used a standardized structured questionnaire, devised for this study. In order to obtain data from contrasting settings within each country, the biggest city and a rural region were investigated whenever feasible. A representative sample of women aged 15 to 49 years was selected from the city of São Paulo and 15 municipalities in a rural region of the northeast, the Zona da Mata de Pernambuco. The study included 940 women from São Paulo and 1,188 from Zona da Mata de Pernambuco who had had an intimate partner at some time in their lives. Violence was classified as psychological, physical and sexual types, and was analyzed in relation to overlapping, recurrence of episodes, severity and when it occurred. RESULTS: The women in São Paulo and Pernambuco respectively reported the following at least once in their lifetimes: psychological (N=383; 41.8% and N=580; 48.9%); physical (N=266; 27.2% and N=401; 33.7%); sexual (N=95; 10.1% and N=170; 14.3%) violence. There was significant overlapping among the types of violence, which seemed to be associated with the most severe types of violence. The greatest single type was psychological violence, in São Paulo and Pernambuco (N=164; 17.5% and N=206; 17.3%), and the smallest was sexual violence (N=2; 0.2% and N=12; 1.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The results show that violence is a very common phenomenon. The findings reiterate previous international studies results with regard to high magnitude and overlapping of types of intimate partner violence.