Perception of intimate partner violence among women seeking care in the primary healthcare network in São Paulo state, Brazil

ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence and perception of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women in the primary healthcare network in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.MethodsIn a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted between August 2008 and May 2009 in São Paulo state, Brazil, sociodemographic variables (age, education, ethnicity, paid employment, religion, marital status, economic stratum), experiences of IPV (physical, sexual, psychological), and women’s perception of violence were compared among 2379 women attending primary healthcare units. Statistical analysis was performed via χ2 test, Student t test, and multiple logistic regression (odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals) to determine interrelations between the type and perception of violence.ResultsThe overall prevalence of IPV was 55.7%, whereas that of psychological, physical, and sexual violence was 53.8%, 32.2%, and 12.4%, respectively; however, only 48.7% of women who experienced IPV had perceived this violence. The perception of IPV was highest for sexual violence (76.3%), followed by physical (64.7%) and psychological (49.7%) violence.ConclusionThe results showed that, among women within the primary healthcare network in the state of São Paulo, a high percentage had experienced some form of IPV during their lifetime but the rate of self-perception of IPV was low.