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Abstract
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AUTHOR'S ABSTRACT:
Objectives. This study examined the prevalence of physical violence during twelve months before delivery of liveborn infants among black and white women in South Carolina during 1993-1995. Correlates of physical violence during pregnancy and relationships between experiencing physical violence during pregnancy and selected maternal morbidity and birth outcomes were examined. Methods. A cross-sectional survey of 6,143 South Carolina women were surveyed shortly after delivery. The survey response rate during 1993-1995 was 70%. Data were weighted to account for survey design and non-response. Maternal socio-demographics, behaviors, physical violence and psychosocial stressors, and maternal hospitalizations were self-reported. Medical risk factors, complications of labor and delivery and birth outcomes were drawn from the birth certificate. Categorical and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed with the SUDAAN software. Results. Overall 11% of women reported either being physically hurt by husband/partner or being involved in a physical fight (any physical violence). When the prevalence of these inter-personal violence behaviors were assessed separately, 5% of women reported experiencing partner-perpetrated physical violence, while another 6% reported being involved in a physical fight only. Women experiencing any physical violence during pregnancy were more likely to be young, unmarried, have annual households income less than 185% of poverty rate, receive Medicaid, initiate prenatal care after first trimester, and report numerous stressful life events. Married women whose infant's birth certificates did not indicate baby's father information were more likely to experience physical violence than their married counterparts whose infant's birth records showed baby's paternity. Women experiencing physical violence were at higher risk for having: a pregnancy related medical risk factor, anemia, a cesarean delivery; a pre-delivery hospitalization for kidney infections and other infections, premature labor, and physical trauma after controlling for the confounding effects of age and poverty. After controlling for age and poverty, there was no evidence of an association between physical violence during pregnancy and low birthweight or preterm delivery. Conclusions. Physical violence during the 12 months before delivery is common and it poses a significant risk to maternal health during pregnancy. Further, physical violence may complicate a pregnancy through connections between physical violence and substance abuse, inadequate prenatal care, and increased stress. Violence during pregnancy is a serious public health problem requiring the same vigilance currently afforded to gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia or premature rupture of membranes. Prevention strategies are warranted such as the universal screening of reproductive age women, not only at prenatal care sites, but also at sites providing services for family planning, pediatric-related, gynecological and obstetrical and preventive care. (Abstract Adapted from Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, 1998. Copyright © 1998 by Vilma Esther Cokkinides; University Microfilms International)
South Carolina
1990s
Adult Female
Adult Pregnancy
Female Victim
Adult Victim
Violence During Pregnancy
Domestic Violence Incidence and Prevalence
Domestic Violence Effects
Domestic Violence Causes
Domestic Violence Victim
Spouse Abuse Victim
Spouse Abuse Prevention
Spouse Abuse Effects
Spouse Abuse Causes
Spouse Abuse Incidence and Prevalence
Partner Violence
Violence Against Women
Battering During Pregnancy
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