[Violence against women: a study in a primary healthcare unit].
OBJECTIVE
There is scarce information on violence against women in the Brazilian society. This fact is rarely reported in medical records as part of the diagnosis and case management, despite evidence showing the significant impact of violence on the population's health. The study aim was to estimate the occurrence of violence against women, and to determine the nature and magnitude of the violent action and the relationship between women and her aggressors.


METHODS
The study was conducted among women seen in a primary care unit of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, in a two-month period in 1998. The occurrence of violence cases was ascertained using standardized interviews to all women aged 15 to 49 years who sought health care during the study. Three-hundred and twenty-two women were interviewed.


RESULTS
Of the participants, 143 (44.4%; IC95%=38.9-49.8%) reported at least one episode of physical violence in their adult life, 110 of those perpetrated by their partners or family members (34.1%; IC95%=28.9-39.3%). Thirty-seven women (11.5%; IC95%=8.0-14.9%) reported at least one episode of sexual violence in their adult life, 23 of those perpetrated by their partners or family members (7.1%; IC95%=4.3-9.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
As reported in other countries, physical and sexual violence is highly frequent among women seen in primary care services. In most cases their partners and family members are the perpetrators and the episodes are mostly serious and recurrent.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005195:Family Relations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016387:Women's Health
Violência contra a mulher: estudo em uma unidade de atenção primária à saúde.