The Medical Approach on Intimate Partner Sexual Abuse: Romanian Physicians’ Perspective. A Qualitative Analysis

This paper presents an analysis of seven in-depth interviews conducted with Romanian healthcare practitioners (six physicians specializing in obstetrics - gynecology and one general practitioner) who provided information on cases of patients who are victims of sexual abuse carried out by the partner. The Romanian proffesionals interviewed come from two of the largest hospitals in Bucharest. This descriptive study shows the circumstances in which these abuses took place and considers the medical factors that particularly prohibited sexual intercourse. We are talking about those sensitive periods of a woman’s life, such like pregnancy, confinement, menopause, certain surgeries and treatments involving genital sexual abstinence for a period of time, depending on the diagnosis. Intimate partner violence look closely at the relationship of power and control. In the case of this qualitative analysis we are discussing the medical perspective, more specifically the way in which the physicians approach the situations of females who are victims of intimate partner sexual abuse.

Keywords: intimate partner violence in Romania, sexual abuse, shame, guilt, traditional values