Violence Against Women and Consequences During Climacteric´s Phase

University of Sao Paulo General Hospital300 enrolled

Overview

Objective- Analysis of the health status of women who were or are victims of domestic and sexual violence seeking attention at the outpatient clinic for Endocrines Gynecology and Climactery - University of Sao Paulo General Hospital. To widen the comprehension of the binomial relationship violence-pathologies by professionals/staff who work in health services, offering women in such situation humane, comprehensive and qualified attention. Specific Objectives: decreasing the rates of domestic and sexual violence against women employing: prevention, health education and treatment - within the context of health services and public policies. Methodology - Project Type: Research in Action A- Attention to women in a situation of domestic and sexual violence during climactery; B- Information/Education/Communication (IEC) C- Behavioral Intervention (IC) D- Institutional Development (DI). Target Populations: 1. Women (during the ages of 40 to 65 years) who were or are victims of domestic and/or sexual violence; 2. Professional/staff who work in services attending women in sexual and domestic violent situations (health professionals, policemen, civil society) in areas located within the South Regional Health Coordination - SRC. To collect information, a semi structured questionnaire will be employed during seven months in 2009.

Trained professionals will work in the regions of: Campo Limpo, M'Boi Mirim, Santo Amaro and neighboring regions, neighborhood in which the Social Vulnerability Index of São Paulo (IPVS) shows high records.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

300

Conditions

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is good for women subject to sexual violence.

Women subjected to sexual violence had significative higher incidence of depression and fibromyalgia that did not respond to classic treatment; after two of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy started to respond to medicine previously employed.

Time frame: 8 months

PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN CHILDOOD AND/OR ADOLESCENTS: LESSER PREVALENCE OF COMORBIDITIES IN CLIMACTERIC´S PHASE.

Analyzing among women who suffered violence in childhood and/or adolescence comorbidities they suffered in climacteric´s phase. We applied a semi-structured questionnaire for women in climactery who suffered domestic violence. We performed descriptive and comparative analysis on violences both groups (violence in childhood and/or adolescence and violence in adulthood) with chronic affections presented in climactery. Conclusion: suffering domestic violence during childhood and/or adolescence presents higher prevalence of comorbidities during climacteric´s phase.

Time frame: four months

Analyzing among women who suffered violence the comorbidities they suffered in climacteric´s phase.

Chronic pathologies in women who suffered violence in childhood/adolescence: Hypertension 47,5%, Diabetes 14,17%, Depression 70,0%;Labyrintitis 36,67%, Fybromialgy 30,83%, Rheumatic disease 25,0%, Ovarian cancer 1,67%, Uterine cancer 3,33%, Disk hernia 13,33%, Allergies 30,83%, Bronchitis 10,83%, Thrombosis 6,67%. Comparing these women to those who suffered violence during adulthood, these women resulted in higher prevalence of Diabetes, Depression, Labyrintitis, Ovarian cancer, Bronchitis/breathing allergies and Thrombosis, when compared to women subjected to violence during adulthood.

Time frame: 3 months

Secondary Outcomes

Sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is good for women subject to sexual violence.

Women subjected to violence in any phase of their lives had at least three chronic comorbidities. The correlation between having been subjected to violence and suffering from depression, fibromyalgia or sexual dysfunctions (statistical significant).