TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2024//
TI  - The effect of a digital intervention on symptoms of depression in pregnant women exposed to Intimate partner violence in Denmark and Spain (STOP study)
JO  - European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology
A1  - Andreasen, Karen
A1  - Fernández López, Rodrigo
A1  - Wu, Chunsen
A1  - Linde, Ditte S.
A1  - Oviedo-Gutiérrez, Alba
A1  - López Megías, Jesús
A1  - Martin-de-Las-Heras, Stella
A1  - Ludmila Zapata-Calvente, Antonella
A1  - Ankerstjerne, Lea
A1  - de-León-de-León, Sabina
A1  - Dokkedahl, Sarah
A1  - Schei, Berit
A1  - Rasch, Vibeke
SP  - 120
EP  - 127
VL  - 301
IS  - 
N2  - INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a significant public health concern associated with adverse maternal and fetal health outcomes, including increased risk of depression. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of a digital empowerment-based intervention in reducing symptoms of depression among IPV-exposed pregnant women. STUDY DESIGN: This intervention study was nested within a cohort study conducted in Denmark and Spain. Pregnant women attending antenatal care were digital screened for IPV using the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) and the Women's Abuse Screening Tool (WAST). Those screening positive were offered a digital intervention comprising 3-6 video consultations with trained IPV counsellors and access to a safety planning app. Changes in depression scores from baseline to follow-up were evaluated using mixed model regression. <br><br>RESULTS: From February 2021-October 2022, 1,545 pregnant women (9.6 %) screened positive for IPV within our population (8.5 % in Denmark and 17.0 % in Spain) with 485 (31.4 %) meeting the criteria for the intervention. Of those eligible, 104 (21.4 %) accepted the intervention, and 55 completed it (13.1 %). Post-intervention, a significant reduction in Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) was found, with a mean difference of -3.9 (95 % CI: -5.3; -2.4), compared to the average pre-intervention score of 11.3. Stratifying the analyses across sociodemographic variables did not alter the overall result, indicating a reduction in EPDS scores irrespective of setting or sociodemographic factors. Notably, the intervention was most effective for women initially presenting with EPDS scores above the depression cut-off. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that a brief digital intervention is associated with a reduction in depression symptoms among pregnant women exposed to IPV, particularly among those with high depressive scores. This highlights the potential of digital interventions in delivering counseling and shows efficacy when administered by both midwives and psychologists in diverse settings. However, the absence of a control group underscores the need for caution in interpreting the results.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0301-2115
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.07.025
ID  - ref1
ER  -