Violence against women: Profile of the aggressors and victims and characterization of the injuries. A forensic study

Abstract Objective This study, carried out based on examinations of battered women by the Clinical Forensic Service of the Afrânio Peixoto Medical-Legal Institute in the city of Rio de Janeiro, aims to characterize the nature of the injuries suffered by victims of domestic violence and to investigate the motivation of such events, the family situations in which they occur, the habits of victims and aggressors and the social milieu involved. Method A questionnaire was given to 1000 battered women attended by that service between October 2009 and March 2012, along with simultaneous quantification/classification of the injuries suffered. Results We found a prevalence of working women (63.3%), with at least some high school (46.6%), who were the main household breadwinners (50.9%). In contrast, the largest percentages of male aggressors only had primary school educations at most (45.9%), were illegal drug users (60.4%) and were self-employed/freelance workers (72.4%). Regarding classification of the injuries (according to the Brazilian Penal Code), there were 971 cases of injuries considered slight, 23 of severe injuries and 6 of very severe injuries. Conclusion The majority of the women studied continue suffering aggressions even though they have their own means of support without depending on a male companion or husband. The reasons given for accepting the aggressive acts were mainly associated with the psychological sphere, in a relation of dependence and subordination.