Perceived effects of service utilization by women survivors of violence: The case of the women and children protection unit of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, Cebu City

This study explored the perceived effects of the services offered by the Women and Children Protection Unit (Pink Room) of the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center to women survivors of violence. It also described the socio-economic and demographic profiles of these women, the forms of abuse they experienced, their motivations to seek help, and the services they utilized. Included in the study were 15 women between 15-49 years old who availed of the services of the Pink Room within two years prior to the onset of the study. All of the women, who have a mean age of 35, are Catholic and were married, while some have college education and sources of income. All of them also suffered a combination of abuses, which increased in severity and frequency over time, prompting them to seek outside help. Most of the women went to the Pink Room only once to have their injuries documented, and to obtain advice about their situation. After the initial visit, many of the women perceived positive changes in their physical and emotional well-being, in their relationship with their husbands/partners, and in their awareness of and access to community resources. They attributed these changes to the Pink Room\u27s support, advice about their rights and their relationship, and on the legal services they obtained. Due to the visit, many of the women became aware and assertive of their rights, even taking steps to manage their problems. Those who benefited the most from the services of the Pink Room were young women who had no sources of income and only lived with their husbands/partners for a short period of time. They were the ones who took steps in managing their problems by either talking or confronting their husbands/partners, and/or going to the barangay to file complaints