III. Violencia doméstica. El maltrato a la mujer

Summary Objectives: To determine the existence and type of violent behavior in families of hospitalized children. Material and Methods: This is a study with transversal design. One hundred mothers of hospitalized children were interviewed by a female psychiatrist. The questionnaire employed consisted of 63 closed questions on sociodemographic data, including physical, emotional, and sexual violence of origin families and of procreation; pro-creating families who were victims and aggressors, and the causes and effects of violence. Beliefs concerning male superiority were also explored. Results: One half of women reported violence in their present families and 42% in their families of origin. In both types of families, women were the most frequent victims and spouses, the main aggressors, sometimes under effects of alcohol. Types of violence were emotional 93%, physical 50%, and sexual, 16%. Only one in five battered women presented a claim, without prosecution in most cases. Some women believe in male superiority. Conclusion: High frequency of domestic violence was detected in this sample of mothers, to a certain extent related to alcohol consumption by the husband. It is necessary for physicians to increase their knowledge of domestic violence to detect it and carry out appropriate reporting and treatment.