ABSTRACT

Violence against women is a common social problem. Gender inequality is origin of the violence against women. Health workers have responsibilities in supplying medical care, support and counseling to the mistreated of the violence. This descriptive study was planned for the purpose to determine attitude of the healthcare workers to violence against women.

In this research, 94 healthcare workers from seven different types of hospital (4 public hospitals, 2 private hospitals, one university hospital) in İstanbul have been contacted. Data were collected with a 34 item questionnaire prepared by the researcher. Percentage was used in the data analysis.

According to the research findings even 95.7% of the healthcare workers had indicated that the violence against the women is only “harmfull physical action against the women”. “What is the basis of violence against the women?” had been answered by 59.5% of the same healthcare workers as “This is due to the patriarchal society we live in.” Scary answer was that 61.7% of the same healthcare workers agreed that “to attempt to rape is women’s provocation” as is the general belief in society.

It can be said that the approach of the healthcare workers is similar with the view and attitude related to women’s sexual role expectancy which is internalized by traditional cultures of Turks.

Keywords: Violence against women, health care worker