Coping with child violencein primary care: how do professionals perceive it?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Child Development
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Child violence is a growing global concern requiring intervention.
• Primary care professionals are crucial in identifying and responding to child violence.
• Understanding healthcare providers' perceptions is key to improving support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore primary care health professionals' perceptions of child violence.
• To identify challenges and needs in addressing child violence within the primary care setting.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative, descriptive, and exploratory study design.
• Interviews conducted with primary care professionals in São Paulo.
• Speech data analyzed using the Alceste software tool.

Main Results:

• Professionals identified limitations and difficulties within the existing care network for managing child violence.
• The need for intersectoral collaboration was emphasized.
• Violence situations within the care setting and their impact on child development were recognized.

Conclusions:

• Enhanced training for healthcare workers is essential.
• Improved organization of the health network is necessary for adequate care provision.
• Financial resources are critical for effectively combating child violence.