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Objective: To longitudinally assess domestic violence (DV) during the postpartum period, identifying types, patterns and determinants of DV, according to mothers' reports in Fortaleza, Brazil., Methods: Data from the Iracema-COVID cohort study interviewed at home mothers who gave birth in the first wave of COVID-19, at 18 and 24 months after birth. Patterns of reported DV were classified as follows: no DV, interrupted DV, started DV and persistent DV. Adjusted multinomial logistic regressions were used to assess factors associated with persistent DV., Results: DV was reported by 19 and 24% of the mothers at 18 and 24 months postpartum, respectively, a 5 percentage points increase. Persistent DV was present in 11% of the households in the period. The most frequent forms of DV were verbal aggression, reported by 17-20% of the mothers at 18 and 24 months, respectively; drunkenness or use of drugs at home, present in 3-5% of the households; physical aggression, reported by 1.2-1.6% of the mothers. Households with two or more forms of DV increased from 2 to 12% in the period. Adjusted factors associated with persistent DV were maternal common mental disorder, family headed by the mother and head of family's poor schooling. Food insecurity was associated with starting DV., Conclusion: Prevalence of DV was considerably high in the postpartum period. DV prevention policies should rely on improving care to women's mental health; preventing food insecurity; and fostering the educational level of young people of both sexes.

Violence is a major social problem in Brazil, with severe repercussions on the health care sector. Primary health care professionals, especially community health workers (CHWs), are at high risk of violence at facilities and in the socially vulnerable area where they work. This study analyzed the relationships between adverse working conditions and dimensions of localized violence on the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) among CHWs in Fortaleza, a state capital in Northeastern Brazil. Information was collected with a self-report questionnaire containing items on sociodemographic data, work-related violence, psychoemotional signs and symptoms (Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20), mental health care, and absence from work due to general or mental health issues. Based on the responses of 1,437 CHWs, the prevalence of CMD (32.75%) was associated with perceived, witnessed, or suffered violence in the work area. In the hierarchical analysis, CMD were associated with age, sex, religious identity, years of experience as a CHW with the Family Health Strategy (FHS), work neighborhood, activities in the community, considering the lack of bonding with families as an obstacle, having suffered domestic violence, use of medication for emotional dysregulation, identifying the neighborhood as violent, considering violence a physical or mental health determinant, and identifying impunity as a cause of violence. Thus, the work and mental health of CHWs were significantly affected by violence dimensions. Our findings are relevant to the adoption of strategies to mitigate the effects of violence on the work and mental health of CHWs.