Violence During Pregnancy and Substance Use

• NCJ Number: 124788
• Journal: American Journal of Public Health Volume: 80 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1990) Pages: 575-579
• Author(s): H Amaro; L E Fried; H Cabral; B Zuckerman
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 5 pages
• Grant Number(s): R01DA03509; MCJ-009094
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Free online PDF and HTML access to the American Journal of Public Health is provided by the publisher 24 months after individual issues are released.

Annotation

This study of 1,243 pregnant women examined the patterns of violent incidents during pregnancy, the association between demographic and psychosocial characteristics and violence during pregnancy, the association between violence during pregnancy and substance abuse, and the effect of violence during pregnancy and newborn outcomes.

Abstract

The data were collected through interviews during the prenatal and postpartum periods. Seven percent of the respondents reported physical or sexual violence during their pregnancies and another three percent reported incidents in the three months prior to their pregnancy. Most of the victims experienced one episode of violence and most incidents occurred during the first trimester of pregnancy. Ninety-four percent of the victims knew their assailants. Victims were more often white, American-born, and single with a history of sexually transmitted diseases and elective abortions. Victims were more likely than non-victims to suffer from depression and suicidal tendencies, to feel unhappy about the pregnancy, and to feel a lack of family and partner support during their pregnancy. Victims were also more likely to be heavy users of alcohol and illicit drugs; heavy drug use during pregnancy was associated with a 39-percent increase in the chances of being a victim of violence. Women who were victims of violence had greater odds of having a male partner who used marijuana or cocaine. The association of violence to birth outcomes was weak. The study has important implications for prenatal health care provision as well as preventive and intervention measures for maternal and child physical and mental health. 4 tables, 29 references. (Author abstract modified)