Assistance strategies for women victims of gender-based violence during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The objective was to analyze the scientific evidence on assistance strategies provided to women, victims of gender violence, in several countries, in the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a narrative review of the literature, by searching PubMed, Scopus and Virtual Health Library databases, using the keywords “COVID-19” and “women” and “violence”. Seventy-six publications were initially found. After the selection, based on the inclusion criteria and the answers to the guiding question, 25 articles were used, submitted to the analysis of semantic content. There were five categories of analysis: Internet accessibility, telehealth and digital exclusion; Emergency telephone lines for reporting violence during the pandemic; Readjustment/expansion of services to combat COVID-19 to assist women victims of violence; Health education and intersectoral actions - interface with media programs; State actions and society responses. It is concluded that the main evidenced actions are anchored in the support and intersectoral actions proposed by the governments. It will help the State to develop strategies, enabling health professionals to rethink their practice, in a contextualized way to the current reality, from welcoming women to notification of suspicion, as well as health education for the empowerment of victims.