Social Representations of Nursing Care for Women Victims of Intimate Partner Violence: Perspectives from Medellín (Colombia)

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a social and public health problem that profoundly impacts women's lives. Nursing professionals, as the first point of contact within the health system, play a key role in detecting and addressing this phenomenon. However, their social representations (SR) of IPV and the care provided can influence the quality of interventions. Objective: To understand the SR of nursing professionals regarding the care of women victims of IPV in the city of Medellín. Method: A qualitative study conducted between 2021 and 2022, based on the SR Theory with a procedural approach. Twelve semi-structured interviews were conducted with nursing professionals with over five years of experience, selected through convenience and snowball sampling. Data were analyzed using the constructivist approach of Charmaz's Grounded Theory. Results: The SR of nursing professionals reflect broad but stigmatizing perceptions of women victims, who are seen as fragile and dependent. The care provided is perceived as insufficient due to institutional barriers and a lack of specific training, although active listening and emotional support are recognized as central strategies. Conclusions: Transforming these SR through formative and reflective processes is essential to promote comprehensive and humanized care. Furthermore, it is necessary to strengthen policies and protocols that expand the role of nursing professionals in the integral care and long-term follow-up of women victims.