NCJ Number
219045
Journal
Trauma, Violence, & Abuse Volume: 8 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2007 Pages: 127-134
Date Published
April 2007
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This literature review addresses the prevalence and consequences of pregnancy following partner rape and recommends directions for future research on this issue.
Abstract
This review indicates that rape by an intimate partner is common and often results in pregnancy. The few studies that measure intimate partner sexual assault separately from physical assault consistently report that 40-50 percent of abused women are also raped. Intimate partner sexual assault compared with physical assault is linked to a higher prevalence of posttraumatic stress among victims as well as substance use and thoughts of suicide. At a minimum, all pregnant women should be assessed for partner violence, safety planning, guided referrals, and followup. Future research in this area must move beyond crisis management toward the development and testing of intervention models that can change the attitudes and practices of men and the various societal systems that promote violence against women. Research should also focus on the degree to which women in abusive relationships can control their sexual lives and choices as well as the power dynamics in the relationship that determine these choices. A recent study of 148 Hispanic, White, and Black abused women seeking a protection order found that 68 percent of the women reported one or more episodes of rape (McFarlane et al., 2005a, b). There were no significant demographic differences between the abused women who did and did not report rape. Such pregnancies result in fewer live births and more elective abortions compared with abused women whose pregnancies did not result from rape. 44 references