Reception of victims of sexual violence in Brazilian health services: integrative review

Abstract

We aim to understand how victims of sexual violence are welcomed in the Brazilian public health system after the legislative changes of 2013. An integrative review of articles available virtual libraries, published from 2013 to February 2022, was performed. After reading titles, abstracts, and full texts, publications that do not relate sexual violence to public health care were excluded. A meta-synthesis was executed in 3 axes: professional training; care and access protocols; and accessibility. As a result, only 14 articles were selected from the more than 2 thousand initially identified, with studies in 21 municipalities of the five Brazilian regions, most performed in centers specialized in assisting victims of sexual violence. Most professionals say they do not have adequate training, not knowing the care protocols, with the exception of some specialized centers and professionals interested in the topic. Prejudice, lack of coordination between services, poor distribution of care networks, and socioeconomic factors hinder the access and accessibility of victims. In conclusion, sexual violence is widely addressed in publications, but few articles deal with public health care in Brazil. Professional unpreparedness and lack of knowledge still prevail, indicating the need for more studies and qualification.