Nurses assistance. Narrative of women victims of domestic violence

Abstract

Background: Violence is a problem which affects society, and individual and collective health. Objective: To describe the victims’ experience on the nurses’ attendance in health units following an episode of violence. Method: Cross-sectional study with a qualitative approach, configuring an interpretative paradigm. Convenience sample of 27 women resident in a shelter-house. Age between 22-64 years (M=41.15; SD=11.7). The questionnaire collected demographic data, type of aggression and narrative on the nurses’ attendance on the health unit’s admission episode. The data was analysed using WebQDA software. The ethical procedures were complied. Results: The majority is of Portuguese nationality (n=21), cohabited with the aggressor (n=24). In 18 of the cases, the time between the admission in the health unit and the secure place ranged from 1 to 48 hours. All suffered psychological violence. In the narrative analysis, three major categories emerge: a) retelling the violence, b) deprivations in care and c) beneficence in care. In the first category the participants describe the victimization, in the second category they point the attendances’ frailties and in the third category the attendances’ favourable aspects. A fourth category emerges, resulting from the reflective attitude on the predecessors, denominated here by rebirth of losses and bereavements, on which some of the participants anticipate a positive future. Conclusion: Although sexism is identified by some participants, overall, they are gratified by nursing care.