Detection of gender based violence. Analysis of the situation on the primary health care system on the city of Buenos Aires

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: the justification of the present study is based on the consideration of gender based violence (GBV) as a public health issue and the health sector as a privileged space for its detection. GBV is understood as any act or threat that has or could have as a result injuries or physical, sexual or psychological suffering for a woman. OBJECTIVES: To perform an analysis of the situation in the Primary Health Care System, on the City of Buenos Aires in relationship to its responding capacity to Gender based Violence (GBV). METHODS: Descriptive study on transversal cut. The analysis allowed characterizing, understanding and interpreting the situation of each centre in relationship to GBV. Two polls were carried out. The subjects were all those professionals who attend to women over 21 years of age on the Health and Community Centers in CABA. RESULTS: 512 participants responded. 415 were women; average age was 44 years old. The 49.7% acknowledged having little or no knowledge regarding the problematic. Between the 81.7 % and 88.6% recognized themselves as being medium or little qualified on detecting GBV. The 72.3 % considered that GBV detection in health appointments should be done systematically. CONCLUSIONS: the results indicate the importance of health professional’s qualification in order to improve their practice in detecting GBV.