Abstract

LUCANIA, Eliane Regina; MIYAZAKI, Maria Cristina de Oliveira Santos  and  DOMINGOS, Neide Aparecida Micelli. The Shelter Project: characterization of patients and psychological therapy to sexual abuse victims. Temas psicol. [online]. 2008, vol.16, n.1, pp. 73-82. ISSN 1413-389X.

Sexual violence is a serious public health problem, and victims age vary from the new-born to the elderly. The objectives of this study were: to characterize victims of sexual violence registered at The Shelter Project developed at Hospital de Base between December/2001 and October/2007; and to present how the Project works from the moment the victim gets to the Hospital Emergency, is referred to the Shelter Project and receives psychological therapy. Method: Data was collect from patient’s record which contains the protocol used with victims of sexual violence seen at the Shelter Project. Results: 118 victims were identified; 108 were women, mainly adolescents and young adults. The Shelter Project protocol foresees medical and psychological immediate assistance at the hospital and continuity of the assistance at the outpatient clinic. Conclusion: Most victims were women, which is in accordance with literature. Psychological assistance is based on CBT (Cognitive-Behavior-Therapy), a reference model in psychological assistance for sexual abused persons.

Keywords : Sexual violence; Incidence; Women’s health; Violence against women; Statistics.