Chemical dependency as a risk factor for domestic violence against women

ABSTRACT

Problem: Domestic violence against women affects their health as a whole. Nurses should be qualified not only to recognize such violence but also care for women affected by it and also identify the risk factors that may trigger it aiming its prevention. Objective: To identify risk factors that trigger domestic violence. Method: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted in a Shelter Facility in Curitiba, PR, Brazil from December 2010 to February 2011 with eight women. Data were collected through recorded semi-structured interviews and the following theme emerged from thematic content analysis: Chemical dependency as risk factor for domestic violence. Results and Discussion: Alcohol or crack addiction of these women’s partners was a risk factor that triggered domestic violence both physical and against property, affected basic human needs, generated fear and disrupted family relationships, which made them to abandon their partners and seek the shelter facility. Final Considerations The availability of a nurse in this facility is essential because the violence perpetrated against these women affected them in multidimensional terms, which requires the implementation of both technical and expressive care actions related to their subjectivity so to prevent diseases, promote health, and improve quality of life.