Racism in health services: a lack of care of violence against black women victims of sexual violence

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the access and the use of health practices given to 40 women in a situation of sexual violence in a public health service of reference in the State Paraiba, Brazil. Method: It is a descriptive documentary study with a quantitative and qualitative approach, performed in a public service of the State of Paraíba reference to assistance to women in situations of sexual violence. Results: in 39% of cases the higher frequency of aggressions predominated in women of low-income social class, between 10-20 years of age, and 20% of them were pregnant at the time of the agression. Most of the victims were black women (72%). The type of sexual violence more employee was the rape (59%). Besides the delay to start the service, the exams for AIDS prophylaxis and emergency contraception, in 69% of notifications were not recorded. Conclusion: these aspects reveal the racism and the precarious conditions of health for black women, suggesting a possible non-valuation by health professionals, similar of what occurs in other social spaces in our society.