[Women in situation of violence by their intimate partner: making a decision to seek a specialized violence support service].

OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the factors involved in the decision making process of women in situation of interpersonal violence perpetrated by an intimate partner in search for domestic violence support services. METHODS Qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research. Sixteen women were interviewed through individual semi-structured interviews, at a Women's Reference Center in Duque de Caxias, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Data analysis was performed using the technique of collective subject discourse was used. RESULTS The results showed that these women sought psychosocial support when interpersonal violence reached their limit of tolerance. The group meetings organized by the Reference Center made it possible for these women to recover their self-esteem and confidence and to increase awareness of the need to change their lives and achieve economic autonomy. CONCLUSIONS In this scenario, by collecting data for the research, the nurses contributed to the promotion of gender equality and women's empowerment, as recommended by the Millennium Development Goals.