NCJ Number
193458
Date Published
2002
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reports the findings of a study on the frequency, nature, and results of domestic violence in pregnancy in England.
Abstract
This study had four primary objectives: to examine the prevalence of domestic violence in pregnancy and the postpartum period, to assess whether screening questions for domestic violence increased the detection rate by midwives, to relate experiences of domestic violence to measures of maternal health, and to assess whether questions about domestic violence was acceptable by users and providers of obstetric services. The study defined domestic violence as any adult experience of physical or sexual violence perpetrated by a current or former partner or family member. A total of 892 women participated in the study on at least one occasion. Key findings of the study included the following: the lifetime prevalence of domestic violence was 13.4 percent. Domestic violence was experienced by 6.4 percent of women during the last 12 months. During pregnancy, 42.1 percent of the women reported more than 1 physical assault and 36.8 percent experienced a blow to the abdomen. The risk of a women experiencing domestic violence in the current pregnancy if she had also experienced domestic violence before the last 12 months was 10.2. Women were 6.54 times as likely to disclose domestic violence pregnancy when asked specific screening questions by a midwife. This represents a significant increase in the detection of violence using a screening instrument. Maternal health and obstetric outcome were determined by observing women’s maternity notes. A history of domestic violence was associated with smoking, marital status, psychiatric illness and gynecological problems. Routine questions for domestic violence are considered acceptable if conducted in a safe, confidential environment by trained midwives.