Analysis of cases of sexual violence against women seen in a reference service

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the cases of sexual violence against women seen in a reference service in Teresina. Methods: Descriptive retrospective study with a quantitative approach, carried out at a reference service for the assistance of women victims of sexual violence (Serviço de Atendimento à Mulher Vítima de Violência Sexual — SAMVIS) in the capital of Piauí. The population was defined through all the cases of sexual violence between January and December 2016, in Teresina, including all the women who had reported sexual assault and registered it in the service and excluded all the cases in which there was no proof of sexual violence. The variables were collected through a form prepared by the authors and after research approval by the CEP. A descriptive statistics was applied with the data collected and compared with the scientific literature. Results: 484 women were seen, of which 235 cases occurred in Teresina and, among those, 146 were characterized as sexual violence. The victims were young girls, 10 and 19 years of age (61%), with less than 8 years of education (74%), mostly students (78.1%) and did not have a fixed partner (41.1%). The violent cases occurred at home (63.9%), during the day (38.2%), by a known (85%) and single aggressor (82.5%) that made use of physical strength (47.5%). Conclusion: The cases of sexual violence occurred with women in situation of vulnerability: young, little study, unemployed, without a partner; cases happened at home, during the day, by a single known aggressor who made use of physical strength to consummate aggression.