[Research on violence against women in Latin America: from blind empiricism to theory without data]

Intimate Partner Violence in Persons With Parkinson's Disease

Recent studies have reported that older adults with cognitive or physical disabilities are at risk to suffer intimate partner violence. This article investigates the intimate partner violence among caregivers and persons with Parkinson's disease (PD). We used qualitative methods to investigate whether the presence of violence was related to the type of couple relationship before the disease onset. We used a survey, in-depth interviews, and focus groups in 20 dyads of caregivers and patients. Twelve (60%) persons with PD and nine (45%) caregivers reported receiving violence. Considering their relationships previous to disease onset, we describe three typologies of violence in PD: (a) disease and history of violence, (b) disease as a buffer of violence, and (c) the burden of disease as an inductor of violence. Previous relationships and the couple's biographical trajectories influence the types of violence and its nature. This study is relevant as it considers time as a crucial factor in both the violence and suffering of PD and its caregiving.

Prevalência de violência física por parceiro íntimo em homens e mulheres de Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brasil: estudo de base populacional

Investigou-se a associação entre sexo e violência física entre parceiros íntimos. Encontrou-se prevalência de sofrer qualquer violência física (17%), violência física moderada (16,6%) e violência física grave (7,3%). Não houve diferença significativa para violência física moderada em homens e mulheres, porém, quanto mais grave o ato maior a ocorrência deste nas mulheres. Por meio de regressão logística testou-se a associação da violência com o sexo, ajustando-se às variáveis exploratórias. Mulheres de maior idade, viúvas/separadas, pobres, menos escolarizadas e pretas registram maior probabilidade de sofrer violência. Nos homens, a prevalência de violência física grave apresentou alteração significativa apenas para estado civil. Uso abusivo de álcool por mulheres representou maior chance de sofrer violência física.

Homens, masculinidade e violência: estudo em serviços de atenção primária à saúde

Há poucos estudos sobre homens abordando violência como evento não fatal. Contribuindo nessa direção, descrevem-se as prevalências da violência psicológica, física e/ou sexual sofridas por homens, detalhando-se nestes tipos a perpetrada contra parceiras. Trata-se de estudo transversal realizado com 789 homens de 18 a 60 anos, dos quais 775 com alguma parceria íntima na vida, selecionados por ordem de chegada em dois serviços de atenção primária na cidade de São Paulo. Foram investigadas as características sociodemográficas e as violências mencionadas, examinadas ainda quanto a sobreposições e à percepção de havê-las sofrido ou perpetrado. As prevalências de violências sofridas na vida foram de 79% para qualquer tipo e por qualquer agressor; 63,9%, 52,8% e 6,1% respectivamente para psicológica, física e sexual. Para violências perpetradas contra a parceira na vida, temos 52,1% qualquer tipo e 40%, 31,9% e 3,9%, respectivamente, para violência psicológica, física e sexual. Nas sofridas e nas perpetradas, a psicológica é a de maior taxa exclusiva, seguida da física. Quanto aos agressores, conhecidos é o principal agressor, seguido de familiar, estranhos e parceira íntima. Na relação entre sofrer por suas parceiras e perpetrar, 14,2% dos casos são sobrepostos e 81,2% somente perpetraram. Conclui-se que, embora nas violências relativas às parceiras íntimas os homens sofram muito menos do que perpetrem, os dados mostram que eles se envolvem em muitas situações de violência, de grandes magnitudes e sobreposições, quer como vitimas ou agressores, reiterando estudos sobre masculinidade. Este conjunto complexo de situações também deve ser considerado nos serviços básicos de saúde.

Violence against women: prevalence and associated factors in patients attending a public healthcare service in the Northeast of Brazil

The prevalence of and factors associated with violence against women attended as outpatients between October 2005 and January 2006 by the Instituto Materno Infantil Professor Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil, were investigated using a cross-sectional type study. 619 women over the age of 18 were included in a systematic probabilistic sample. The modified Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) was applied and the data were evaluated statistically by way of univariate and bivariate analyses, using the chi2 or Fischer's exact test and an adjusted multivariate logistic regression model. The prevalence of violence against women was 27.5% (95%CI: 24.0%-31.2%) in the twelve-month period prior to the consultation. The associated factors were low level of schooling (OR = 2.34), a history of domestic violence (OR = 2.21) the woman being mentally disturbed (OR = 2.35), and the partner's consumption of alcohol (OR = 1.77). The prevalence of violence was high in the group of women studied, indicating the need to broaden preventive measures and all-round health care for women.

[Gender-based violence in Public Health: challenges and achievements]

This text deals with violence against women (VAW) as a scientific and practical object of Health. It is a theoretical and critical reflection related to historical processes that show convergences and distances between the approach of this violence as an issue and the health field particularities, creating contemporary conquests and challenges especially to Public Health. The text debates interdisciplinary aspects of this scientific object and some impacts to the knowledge production and to health actions. Considering the different scientific and practical cultures of Health and other fields that already deal with VAW, existing tensions between health perspective and violence as a socio-cultural phenomenon are showed, becoming critical when added the gender approach. Challenges are then created on dialogs between those fields in terms of: paradigms, scientific models and languages of each one; social intervention needs in every field; and the distinct relation between knowledge and social intervention presented in each field. On the other hand, the conquests related to human and social rights and the proposal of integral health are shown as convergences between these fields. To conclude, some possible answers to the challenges are considered.

[The perception of domestic violence of pregnant and not pregnant women in the city of Campinas, São Paulo]

This study sought to compare the perception of domestic violence of women, victims of this kind of violence, with the perception of pregnant women, victims or not of domestic violence, as well as to search for elements allowing for the planning and execution of a cohort study on domestic violence among pregnant women. A qualitative exploratory research was conducted using the technique of convenience sampling for selecting a focal group. The subjects were twenty four women divided into two groups: (1) thirteen women from a follow-up group from a Referral Center for victims of domestic violence, and (2) eleven pregnant women that were participating in the pre-natal care program in a primary care unit, selected independently of suffering domestic violence or not. The data collected were transcribed, conceptually decoded and qualified for qualitative analysis. The contents of the women's discourse were analyzed on the basis of thematic categories. It was observed that domestic violence was perceived in a similar way by both studied groups, independently from the fact of having or not experienced a situation of this kind. The understanding and discussion of the topics proposed for the groups allowed developing a more appropriate approach to the studied women. The way the questions were formulated in the questionnaire was considered of easy understanding by both groups of women.

Prevalência e fatores associados à violência entre parceiros íntimos: um estudo de base populacional em Lages, Santa Catarina, Brasil, 2007

Estimou-se a prevalência da violência entre parceiros íntimos e os fatores associados em Lages, Santa Catarina, Brasil. Realizou-se um estudo transversal de base populacional domiciliar com mulheres de 20-59 anos (n = 1.042), da zona urbana. As prevalências de agressão verbal, violência física menor e violência física grave foram estimadas pelo questionário Conflict Tactics Scales - Form R. Questões sobre aspectos sócio-econômicos e demográficos foram investigadas. As associações foram testadas pelo teste do qui-quadrado de Pearson e o de tendência linear. A prevalência de violência entre casais para agressão verbal, agressão física menor e agressão física grave foram de 79%, 14,9% e 9,3%, respectivamente. Casais com menos de trinta anos, com renda per capita inferior a meio salário mínimo mensal e vivendo em locais com mais de dois indivíduos por cômodo dormitório apresentaram maiores prevalências das violências mensuradas quando comparados com casais mais velhos, com maior rendimento e menor aglomeração, respectivamente. Programas preventivos, além de estudos qualitativos, podem ser estratégias efetivas para melhor compreender a violência entre parceiros íntimos.

Relación afectiva de mujeres con un esposo alcohólico: un comportamiento social aprendido que repercute en su salud

Se realiza una revisión sobre el tema de la codependencia y su relación con comportamientos socialmente aprendidos sobre la base de una división de género. La codependencia en mujeres de adictos a alcohol y sus consecuencias individuales, familiares y comunitarias también se mencionan. En este contexto se realiza una breve síntesis de los patrones de comportamiento derivados del rol social asignado a la mujer en México en relación con esta temática. Finalmente se establecen algunas posturas teóricas para el análisis de la codependencia a partir del análisis socio-histórico de los significados que tiene para la población el consumo abusivo de alcohol y la relación patológica establecida que establece la mujer con el marido. En este sentido, diferentes autores mencionan la importancia de considerar a la familia y no sólo al individuo para la atención, ya que las consecuencias físicas y mentales están presentes tanto en hombres como mujeres.

[Sexuality, reproductive health and violence against the African Brazilian women: aspects of interest for nursing care]

Based on the referential of the critical racial theory, a review of the literature was made with the objective of searching for information that leads to an affirmative professional action against racism and sexism, based on scientific evidences and culturally competent. It was evidenced that the sexuality, reproductive health and violence against African Brazilian women are themes with scarce literature, suggesting that racism and sexism occur by the omission and negligence of State to weigh on African Brazilian women's mobilization. The study concluded that institutional discrimination in health needs to be neutralized by affirmative actions regarding to African Brazilian women that must be implemented or strengthen to promote equity in health.

[Prevalence and severity of domestic violence among pregnant women, Mexico]

OBJECTIVES

To determine whether pregnancy is a risk factor for domestic violence and to compare prevalence and severity of violence reported by women before and during pregnancy.

METHODS

There were interviewed 468 women in the third trimester of pregnancy who were seen during prenatal visits at public clinics in the state of Morelos, Mexico. Emotional, physical and sexual violence were investigated. A severity index was built up. Logistic regression analysis was applied in order to identify the main variables associated to domestic violence during pregnancy.

RESULTS

The prevalence of domestic violence did not change significantly before and during pregnancy (32%). The prevalence of each type of violence remained the same. About 27% of women who reported violence during pregnancy did not have experience it before, and a comparable proportion had experienced violence before but not during pregnancy. The severity of emotional violence significantly increased during pregnancy (compared to the previous year) whereas the severity of physical violence decreased. Variables most clearly related to violence during pregnancy were: couple's past history of child abuse; women witnessing domestic violence during childhood; and violence in the year before pregnancy. Several risk scenarios were identified, which could be helpful for health care providers.

CONCLUSIONS

The results showed that emotional violence is more prevalent than physical and sexual violence, allowing for a better understanding of this phenomenon.