Coping with child violencein primary care: how do professionals perceive it?

Objective:: to know the perception of health professionals working in primary care about child violence, since this has increased progressively in the world, requiring every effort to intervene.

Method:: this is a qualitative, descriptive and exploratory study performed through interviews with professionals in primary care in a health district of São Paulo. The Alceste tool was used for analysis of data from the speeches.

Results:: perceptions of professionals point to the limits and difficulties of the care network with coping; need for intersectoral action; violence situations identified within the caresetting; and causes and effects of violence on child development.

Conclusion:: there is need for qualified training of workers, health network organization for the provision of quantity and quality of care services, and financial resources for coping with child violence.