[Health care given to patients with violence situations: conceptions of professionals in basic health units]

The following study aimed at analyzing the conceptions of basic health units' professionals on the service rendered to users with violence situations, within their different manifestations. It is a qualitative research conducted with nurses, doctors, nursing technicians, and communitarian health agents through semi-structured interviews. The set of data was collected from October 2007 and March 2008 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, and analyzed through theme analysis. The professionals have a role in identifying situations of violence and in elaborating intervention strategies aiming users' welfare through the recovery of physical and mental health. The break of the violence assistance net, lack of security, lack of capable professionals, and inadequate infrastructure are some of the factors that jeopardize the service. The results might support the elaboration of public policies that help the identification, gathering and assistance to individuals in violence situations.