title: Health characteristics of female victims of domestic violence housed in a state care shelter.
abstract: The promotion of care for female victims of violence implies action that is not limited to combatting the problem, but also to the dimension of care provided to the victims. This study seeks to understand the sociodemographic and health characteristics of female victims of violence who are/have been under the protective custody of the state, before and after the Maria da Penha Law (MPL), and the healthcare offered to them. It is a cross-sectional, exploratory-descriptive documentary study, with a qualitative/quantitative approach, conducted in the second semester of 2013 in a special unit for the protection of female victims of violence in the State of Ceará. The sample was composed of 197 medical records of women attended between 2001 and 2012. Few changes occurred in the health profile of female victims of domestic violence sheltered by the State after the enactment of the MPL. Significant changes occurred in the pattern of care provided, such as increased investigation, promotion, and registration of health-related activities. The identification of the aftereffects of aggression per se is still scarce. A suggested addition would be the inclusion of a health professional in the staff at the shelters to meet this demand.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFCE). R. Alexandre Baraúna 949, Rodolfo Teófilo. 60430-110 Fortaleza CE Brasil.
authors.forename: Rebeca Monteiro
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, UFCE. Fortaleza CE Brasil.
authors.forename: Thiago Brasileiro de
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFCE). R. Alexandre Baraúna 949, Rodolfo Teófilo. 60430-110 Fortaleza CE Brasil.
authors.forename: Renato Evando
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisioterapia, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFCE). R. Alexandre Baraúna 949, Rodolfo Teófilo. 60430-110 Fortaleza CE Brasil.
authors.forename: Raimunda Hermelinda Maia
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Macena
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult