title: [Sexual violence: narratives of women with mental disorders in Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To understand the impact of sexual violence suffered by women with mental disorders based on self-reports of these experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  The reports emerged from open interviews with women receiving care at public mental health services in the states of Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. These interviews were part of a larger research project that had the overall objective of investigating how this population group lives and thinks sexuality, in order to contribute to actions to promote sexual health. Data collection took place in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen women with age between 18 and 68 years were interviewed. Fourteen reported having had stable relationships, but only three were still in these relationships. Most of the stable relationships had not been formalized into marriage. Two participants were widows and 13 had children. All the participants reported difficulties in living with their partners and children and having few friends and little family support. The instability of relationships was attributed to situations of aggression, infidelity, and use of drugs and alcohol. Seven women reported having been victims of physical violence within the family, mostly from partners. Two participants reported never having had sexual relations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care professionals must be trained to encourage the report of sexual violence by women and adequately handle the situation. Intersectoral actions to deal with this issue are also essential.
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Pesquisas em Epidemiologia e Avaliação em Saúde, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, marinacelly.souza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Jaqueline Almeida Guimarães
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Pesquisas em Epidemiologia e Avaliação em Saúde, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, marinacelly.souza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marina Celly Martins Ribeiro
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Grupo de Pesquisas em Epidemiologia e Avaliação em Saúde, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil, marinacelly.souza@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maria Imaculada de Fátima
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Freitas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D017533:Marital Status; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000066550:Physical Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012944:Social Support; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult