Action research on domestic violence during pregnancy: A strategy for qualifying health professionals

ACTION RESEARCH ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DURING PREGNANCY:
A STRATEGY FOR QUALIFYING HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

 Emerging in the neoliberal world order as a public health problem, domestic and intimate partner violence often starts during pregnancy (DVP), and may be more common than diabetes and toxemia, although a web of silence surrounds it.
While a multi-sectorial response is required, health professionals are strategic actors in identifying and supporting disclosure by women who experience abuse, in alleviating health consequences and facilitating entry into social and psychological support services. 
OBJECTIVES: To generate knowledge for developing a proposal for identifying and supporting women suffering DVP in ante-natal and maternity services of a large public hospital where this problem was not addressed.
ACTION RESEARCH:  Essential guidelines of this qualitative method are: to start from the perspective of the actors involved; and to promote some change in their field of action.  This process included:
-         mapping the existing network of legal, social e psychological services;
-        semi-structured interviews on views and experiences of violence were carried out with 34 health professionals and 57 ante-natal clients;
-         preliminary results were discussed in 7 monthly workshops, where proposals for training and organizing were developed and implemented together with staff. 
-         a Seminar to divulge the experience brought together other services and health professionals.
RESULTS:
-         Sixty professionals prepared and new routines established to identify and give interdisciplinary support to women suffering DVP, in accordance with professionals’ views of existing conditions and possibilities; 
-         Professionals reported greater visibility and knowledge of the problem and confidence in their role, better relationships among the interdisciplinary team and greater articulation with other services;
      All new ante-natal clients receive a mini-guide identifying available agencies; 
      -A technical group was designated for monitoring. 
IMPACT:
-         Visibility of innovative participatory methods for establishing interdisciplinary health services for DVP.