Violence against women and its implications for maternal and child health

Objective: To understand how postpartum women perceive the phenomenon of violence and what relationship they establish with their state of health and that of their child, the process of pregnancy, birth and puerperium. Methods: A qualitative study, with data collected through semi-structured interviews with 43 postpartum women in a maternity hospital in Ribeirao Preto (SP), Brazil. Results: Through thematic analysis, the mothers characterized violence against women as a social problem caused by gender inequality and/or as a multifactorial occurrence. Facing the situation of violence, they related difficulty in recognizing its effects on their health and that of their children. Conclusion: The results point to the invisibility of these violent events and the naturalization of violence.