NURSING CARE FOR VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE: A DOCUMENTARY ANALYSIS OF CASES REPORTED FROM 2014 TO 2024 IN BAHIA

Abstract

Sexual violence against women remains a serious public health problem in Brazil, marked by high rates of underreporting, social stigma, and failures in institutional care. In this scenario, the role of nursing, often the victims' first contact with the health system, proves fundamental, yet is still insufficiently valued and understood in its complexity. This study aims to analyze and contextualize sexual violence in Bahia, using publicly available data, and specifically to analyze the role of nursing in the care of victims. This is a quantitative-qualitative research divided into two stages: first, data on sexual violence in Bahia were collected using data available from the Department of Informatics of the Unified Health System - DATASUS for the period 2014-2024; the data were categorized according to demographic aspects and type of violence. Next, a literature review was conducted using a systematic search in the BVS and MEDLINE/PUBMED databases using the descriptors "Sexual violence," "Nursing," and "Health care," combined with Boolean operators. Articles published between 2015 and 2025 in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, with full text available, were included. The selection process involved screening by title/abstract and critical reading of the most relevant articles in full. Between 2014 and 2024, 16,928 cases of sexual violence were reported in Bahia, with a low frequency of reports in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, due to its consequent underreporting. Within the decade analyzed, the highest incidence occurred in 2024 (14.74%). The victims are predominantly female (91.2%), with a predominance of mixed-race and Black ethnicities (78.4%), highlighting the intersection of gender, race, and social inequality as vulnerability factors. Rape was the most prevalent type of violence, representing 74.4% of cases, followed by sexual harassment (22%). The literature review indicates that the nurse's role is fundamental, as they frequently represent the victim's first point of contact with the health system. It is the nurse's responsibility to provide humane care, qualified listening, physical and emotional assessment, and proper recording of information, ensuring data integrity for legal and epidemiological purposes. Furthermore, the nurse plays a central role in coordinating the care and protection network, referring the victim for psychological, social, and legal support when necessary, contributing not only to immediate assistance but also to the prevention of revictimization and the promotion of victim autonomy.