Female offender patients in Portugal

Abstract

The main objective of this research is to present the results of a study about the relations between health and the acts of violence towards women.

They were chosen important institutions in the Health Care instalment in 18 districts of the Portuguese Continent.

The results now presented, correspond to a long and unceasing psycho-sociological investigation amongst women with 18 and more years that had been in those institutions back in 2003 what resulted in 2300 inquiries.

The results had allowed us to make a comparative analysis between women whose manifestations of illness to the physical and psychological level could be related with the acts of violence of that they had been victims and those that, having similar manifestations, had not been victims.

We have tried to obtain descriptive and comprehensive models of the types of illness and it's relation with the violent acts, as well as the psycho-socio-cultural conditions where they had occurred.

This study will be able to constitute a support instrument to the decision and action of the agents involved in this domain. To the definition of politics level, to the implementation of promotion measures of health and prevention of illness, in order to contribute for the improvement of the quality of life of those women.

The results not only represent an increase in the Health knowledge but are also able to give us an idea of the socio-cultural complexity that are in the base of the violence against women.