PSYCHOLOGICAL FIRST AID FOR WOMEN WHO ARE VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Abstract

This article sought to analyze the scientific literature on Initial Psychological Care (IPC) in the care of women who are victims of sexual violence. The study was based on a qualitative, theoretical, and documentary approach of a descriptive nature, using a narrative literature review. Content analysis was employed to interpret the theoretical elements. The study included 16 scientific articles published between 2021 and 2026 in Portuguese, English, and/or Spanish, retrieved from the following databases: Academic Search Premier, Google Scholar, PubMed, SAGE, Scielo, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Wiley Online Library. Based on the specific characteristics of the accumulated evidence, the findings were organized into the following thematic areas: (I) From the experience of sexual victimization to complex mental health needs; (II) Initial psychological care focused on women who are victims of sexual violence and (III) Between protocol and practice: comprehensiveness, networks, and institutional barriers. Initial Psychological Care (IPC) constitutes a form of initial support that respects the autonomy, choices, pace, and individual characteristics of each woman receiving care. Its consolidation requires understanding it as a component of a broader strategy for ethical, responsive care that is connected to continuity of care.