Violence is a relevant issue in society, with the health sector playing a crucial role. In Germany, about every third to fourth woman experiences physical and/or sexual violence at least once in her life (FRA 2014; Müller/Schröttle 2004). So-called "domestic violence" includes all forms of violence between people who are or have been in a close relationship (Kavemann et al. 2001). In a representative study by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), 25% of the women surveyed (n = 10,264) in Germany stated that they had experienced sexual or physical violence by their (ex-) partner since the age of 16 (Müller/Schröttle 2004). However, experiences of violence are often not recognised in the context of health care (Ansara/Hindin 2010, Black 2011). Affected persons turn to health professionals not only in emergency situations, but also in the context of routine examinations. However, this does not automatically mean that the experiences of violence are also addressed (Gloor/Meier 2014). In this context, the health care system could contribute to the early detection of violence as well as the prevention of the health consequences of violence and provide a network to the specialised counselling and support system.

In the FraGiL project at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, health care services in connection with violence were recorded and gaps in care identified. This showed that in particular in the rural areas of eastern and northern Hesse, no adequate health care can be guaranteed after domestic and sexual violence (Haneck/Hahn 2022a). There is a great need for networking and coordination within health care to support people who have experienced violence (Haneck/Hahn 2022b). To prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, the Istanbul Convention was adopted in 2011, a Council of Europe agreement that came into force in Germany in 2018 (Council of Europe 2011). To date, there is no national strategy that codifies its implementation (GREVIO 2022). So far, the Istanbul Convention is still insufficiently implemented in the field of health care. In addition, health care services often do not take into account the needs of affected women (Affected Persons Council 2018).

So far, there have been only a few studies on health care after domestic and sexualised violence that include the perspective of those affected. The GeSicht project addresses this research gap.

The project goals are:

• To gain empirical values from affected women about existing health care services and situations in connection with domestic and sexualised violence in Hesse.
• to identify strengths and weaknesses of health care services in connection with domestic and sexualised violence from the perspective of those affected.
• to contribute to the implementation of the Istanbul Conventions in the field of health care in Hesse.

Qualitative methods are planned to investigate the research interest. Within the framework of the research project, problem-centred interviews (Witzel 2000) will be conducted with women from Hesse who have been affected by violence. These will be analysed according to Braun and Clarke's (2006) Thematic Analysis. Selected individual interview segments will also be analysed in detail. By gaining insights into the subjective experiences and needs of women affected by violence, the viewpoint of those affected can be taken into account in the design of services. The results of the project should be a basis for the design and further development of health services and provide decision-makers in practice as well as at the political level with scientifically sound knowledge about the perspective of those affected.

Ansara, D. L.; Hindin, M. J. (2010): Formal and informal help-seeking associated with women's and men's experiences of intimate partner violence in Canada. Social Science and Medicine 70(7):1011-1018.

• Brown, V.; Clarke, V. (2006): Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology 3: 77 - 101.

• Concerned Council (2018): Concerned Everyone. Work of the Affected Persons Council. Available online at: tour41.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Magazin_Betrifft_alle_Betroffenenrat.pdf (accessed on: 06.12.2022).

• Council of Europe (2011): Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence and explanatory report. Istanbul. Available online at: rm.coe.int/1680462535 (retrieved on: 06.12.2022).

• FRA - European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (2014): Violence against women: an EU-wide survey. Results at a glance. Available online at: fra.europa.eu/sites/default/files/fra-2014-vaw-survey-at-a-glance-oct14_de.pdf (retrieved on: 18.10.2021).

• Gloor, D.; Meier, H. (2014): "The policeman has been my angel". Views of women affected by violence on institutional interventions in cases of violence in marriage and partnership. NRP-60 project, final report. Available online at: lks-hessen.de/sites/default/files/downloads/inhalte/Langfassung%20BetroffenenSicht.pdf (retrieved on: 20.10.2021).

• GREVIO (2022): Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. First report of the Committee of Experts (GREVIO) on the implementation of the Council of Europe Convention of 11 May 2011 (Istanbul Convention) in Germany. Council of Europe: Strasbourg.

• Haneck, S.; Hahn, D. (2022a): Health care for women after domestic and sexualised violence using the example of the state of Hesse. Prevention and health promotion.

• Haneck, S.; Hahn, D. (2022b): Effects of cooperation on health care after domestic and sexualised violence in Hesse and its impact on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. Public Health.

• Kavemann, B.; Leopold, B.; Schirmacher, G.; Hagemann-White, C. (2001): Models of cooperation against domestic violence. Results of the scientific monitoring of the Berlin Intervention Project against Domestic Violence (BIG). BMFSFJ (ed.) Schriftenreihe des BMFSFJ Band 193. Stuttgart.

• Müller, U.; Schröttle, M. (2004): Living situation, safety and health of women in Germany. A representative study on violence against women in Germany. Bielefeld.

• Rabe, H.; Leisering, B. (2018): Analysis: The Istanbul Convention. New impulses for combating gender-based violence. German Institute for Human Rights (ed.). Available online at: www.institut-fuer-menschenrechte.de/fileadmin/user_upload/Publikationen/ANALYSE/Analyse_Istanbul_Konvention.pdf (retrieved on: 05.12.2022).

• Witzel, A. (2000): The problem-centred interview. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 1(1): Art. 22.