ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Health systems have a critical role in a multi-sectoral response to domestic violence against women (DVAW). However, the evidence on interventions is skewed towards high income countries, and evidence based interventions are not easily transferred to low-and middle-income countries (LMIC) where significant social, cultural and economic differences exist. We evaluated feasibility and acceptability of implementation of an intervention (HERA-Healthcare Responding to Violence and Abuse) to improve the response to DVAW in two primary health care clinics (PHC) in Brazil. METHODS: The study design is a mixed method process and outcome evaluation, based on training attendance records, semi-structured interviews (with 13 Primary Health Care (PHC) providers, two clinic directors and two women who disclosed domestic violence), and identification and referral data from the Brazilian Epidemiological Surveillance System (SINAN). RESULTS: HERA was feasible and acceptable to women and PHC providers, increased providers' readiness to identify DVAW and diversified referrals outside the health system. The training enhanced the confidence and skills of PHC providers to ask directly about violence and respond to women's disclosures using a women centred, gender and human rights perspective. PHC providers felt safe and supported when dealing with DVAW because HERA emphasised clear roles and collective action within the clinical team. A number of challenges affected implementation including: differential managerial support for the Núcleo de Prevenção da Violência (Violence Prevention Nucleus-NPV) relating to the allocation of resources, monitoring progress and giving feedback; a lack of higher level institutional endorsement prioritising DVAW work; staff turnover; a lack of feedback from external support services to PHC clinics regarding DVAW cases; and inconsistent practices regarding documentation of DVAW. CONCLUSION: Training should be accompanied by system-wide institutional change including active (as opposed to passive) management support, allocation of resources to support roles within the NPV, locally adapted protocols and guidelines, monitoring progress and feedback. Communication and coordination with external support services and documentation systems are crucial and need improvement. DVAW should be prioritised within leadership and governance structures, for example, by including DVAW work as a specific commissioning goal.
Subject(s)
Domestic Violence , Humans , Female , Brazil/epidemiology , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Research Design , Ambulatory Care Facilities , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: There is growing recognition of the health sector's potential role in addressing domestic violence (DV) against women. Although Brazil has a comprehensive policy framework on violence against women (VAW), implementation has been slow and incomplete in primary healthcare (PHC), and little is known about the implementation challenges. This paper aims to assess the readiness of two PHC clinics in urban Brazil to integrate an intervention to strengthen their DV response. METHODS: We conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with health managers and health providers; a document analysis of VAW and DV policies from São Paulo and Brazil; and 2 structured facility observations. Data were analysed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Findings from our readiness assessment revealed gaps in both current policy and practice needing to be addressed, particularly with regards to governance and leadership, health service organisation and health workforce. DV received less political recognition, being perceived as a lower priority compared to other health issues. Lack of clear guidance from the central and municipal levels emerged as a crucial factor that weakened DV policy implementation both by providers and managers. Furthermore, responses to DV lost visibility, as they were diluted within generic violence responses. The organizational structure of the PHC system in São Paulo, which prioritised the number of consultations and household visits as the main performance indicators, was an additional difficulty in legitimising healthcare providers' time to address DV. Individual-level challenges reported by providers included lack of time and knowledge of how to respond, as well as fears of dealing with DV. CONCLUSION: Assessing readiness is critical because it helps to evaluate what services and infrastructure are already in place, also identifying obstacles that may hinder adaptation and integration of an intervention to strengthen the response to DV before implementation.
Subject(s)
Domestic Violence , Humans , Female , Brazil , Domestic Violence/prevention & control , Health Personnel , Referral and Consultation , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática da produção bibliográfica sobre obstáculos e facilitadores para o cuidado de mulheres em situação de violência doméstica na atenção primária à saúde (APS) no Brasil. O levantamento bibliográfico encontrou 1.048 referências. Analisamos 39 artigos, conforme critérios de inclusão e exclusão. A produção centrou-se em representações e crenças dos profissionais. Os principais obstáculos foram a constituição da violência doméstica contra a mulher (VDM) como questão do escopo da saúde, traduzida em dificuldades na identificação do problema e manejo no encontro assistencial, ausência de treinamento, trabalho em equipe, rede intersetorial, medo e falta de tempo. Os facilitadores focaram-se na introdução da perspectiva de gênero e direitos humanos, vínculo, acolhimento e trabalho em equipe e multisetorial. Apesar da potencialidade da APS para trabalhar com VDM, houve raros estudos que consideraram a perspectiva da gestão e financiamento, fundamental para a superação dos problemas apontados.(AU)
Revisión sistemática de la producción bibliográfica sobre obstáculos y facilitadores para el cuidado de mujeres en situación de violencia doméstica (VDM) en la atención primaria de la salud (APS) en Brasil. La revisión bibliográfica encontró 1.048 referencias. Analizamos 39 artículos, conforme criterios de inclusión y exclusión. La producción se concentró en representaciones y creencias de los profesionales. Los principales artículos fueron la constitución de la VDM como cuestión del alcance de la salud, traducida en dificultades en la identificación del problema y el manejo en el encuentro asistencial, ausencia de capacitación, trabajo en equipo, red intersectorial, miedo y falta de tiempo. Los facilitadores se enfocaron en la introducción de la perspectiva de género y derechos humanos, vínculo y acogida, trabajo en equipo y multisectorial. A pesar de la potencialidad de la APS para trabajar con VDM, fueron raros los estudios que consideraron la perspectiva de la gestión y financiación, fundamental para la superación de los problemas señalados.(AU)
Systematic review of the literature addressing obstacles and facilitators for the care of women, in situations of domestic violence (DV) in primary health care (PHC) in Brazil. The bibliographic review found 1,048 references. The analysis encompassed 39 articles complying with the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The material was centered on representations and beliefs of practitioners. The main obstacles were related to: conceptualizing DV as a health issue, resulting into difficulties to identify the problem and managing care encounters; lack of training and teamwork; scarce intersectoral network, fear and lack of time. The facilitators were mainly: introducing a gender and human rights perspective, bonding and embracement, teamwork and multisectoral work. Despite the potential of PHC to address the issue, few studies considered perspectives of management and financing, considered as key to overcome the problems pointed out.(AU)
