The The understanding of child sexual and gender violence from the perspective of professionals in the care network

Abstract

Violence is a multi-causal phenomenon, manifesting itself in the lives of many children through sexual and gender-based violence, demanding care from an intersectoral network of defense, assistance, and protection. With the aim of identifying the conceptions of professionals working in the care of child victims of sexual violence, we conducted qualitative research using semi-structured interviews and a comprehensive hermeneutic-dialectical analysis. Thirty-six professionals (social workers, community health agents, and psychologists) working in Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Health Care services and the intersectoral network in the western health region of the state of Parana were interviewed. Definitions of violence were identified, reflecting on how the conceptual framework directs care interventions, revealing a greater identification with the concept of sexual violence, considering it as an intergenerational expression, but less allusion to gender-based violence in the region studied.