A Qualitative Analysis of Coping Strategies Among People Assigned Female Birth Who Have Experienced Gynecological Violence in Chile

Gynecological violence, a form of gender-based violence encountered by women, remains a significant but overlooked issue. It occurs within healthcare settings in the context of gynecological care, and despite its prevalence, there's a dearth of research exploring strategies to combat it. This qualitative study aimed to investigate the coping mechanisms adopted by women and individuals assigned female at birth (cisgender, gender nonconforming, and transgender) following experiences of violence in Chile. We conducted semi-structured interviews to explore their coping strategies. The transcriptions were analyzed employing thematic analysis, which revealed that individuals primarily coped with gynecological violence by seeking interpersonal interactions that provided emotional and instrumental support. Additionally, we identified novel coping mechanisms such as self-protecting behaviors and self-affirming behaviors.