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May 6, 1992, Vol 267, No. 17 >
ARTICLE | May 6, 1992

Abuse of Pregnant Women and Adverse Birth Outcome: Title and subTitle BreakCurrent Knowledge and Implications for Practice FREE

Eli H. Newberger, MD; Susan E. Barkan, PhD; Ellice S. Lieberman, MD, DrPH; Marie C. McCormick, MD, ScD; Kersti Yllo, PhD; Lisa T. Gary, MSW; Susan Schechter, MSW
[+] Author Affiliations

This article is one of a number of articles on violence that will appear in upcoming issues of The Journal The reader is referred to the June 10, 1992, issue, which will be dedicated to studies of violence.

Reprint requests to Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115 (Dr Newberger).


JAMA. 1992;267(17):2370-2372. doi:10.1001/jama.1992.03480170096037
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References

ABUSE of pregnant women is not rare. The prevalence of physical assault of women during pregnancy has been estimated at 8% in a random sample drawn from public and private prenatal clinics,1 and between 7% and 11% in nonrandom samples drawn from university obstetric clinic services.2,3 Rates of overall violence against pregnant women gathered by the Second National Family Violence Survey4 were as follows: 154 acts of violence per 1000 during the first 4 months of pregnancy and 170 acts of violence per 1000 women during the fifth through ninth months. (Pregnant women's risk of what was characterized as "abusive violence" was 60.6% greater than that of nonpregnant women in this national probability sample of 6002 households, but this was interpreted as an artifact of age because women under 25 years of age were more likely both to be pregnant and to be abused by husbands and

REFERENCES

1 +
Helton A, McFarlane J, Anderson E.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
2 +
Hilliard P.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Obstet Gyncecol . 1985;;66:185-190.
3 +
Amaro H, Fried L, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance abuse. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
4 +
Gelles R.  Violence and pregnancy: are pregnant women at greater risk of abuse? J Marriage Fam . (August) 1988;:841-847.
5 +
Bullock L, McFarlane J.  The birthweight/battering connection. Am J Nurs . 1989;; 1153-1155.
6 +
Institute of Medicine. Preventing Low Birthweight . Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1985;:72.
7 +
Gelles R.  Violence and pregnancy: a note on the extent of the problem and needed services. Fam Coordinator . 1975;;24:81-86.
8 +
Helton A, Snodgrass F.  Battering during pregnancy: intervention services. Birth . 1987;;14:142-147.
9 +
Hawkins D.  Devalued racial stereotypes: ideological barriers to the prevention of family violence among blacks.  In: Hampton R, ed. Violence in the Black Family: Correlates and Consequences . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1987;.
10 +
Sorenson S, Stein J, Seigal J, Golding J, Burnam A.  The prevalence of adult sexual assault. Am J Epidemiol . 1987;;126:1154-1163.
11 +
Russell DEH.  The prevalence of wife rape.  In: Russell D, ed. Rape and Marriage . New York, NY: Collier Books; 1982;:57-72.
12 +
Pearlman MD, Tintinalli JE, Lorenz RP.  Blunt trauma during pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1990;;323:1609-1613.
13 +
Sammons MN.  Battered and pregnant. Am J Maternal Child Nurs . 1981;;6:246-250.
14 +
Gary LT.  Feminist practice and family violence.  In: Bricker-Jenkins M, Hooyman NR, Gottlieb N, eds. Feminist Social Work Practice in Clinical Settings . Newbury Park, Calif: Sage Publications; 1991;:19-32.
15 +
McKibben L, De Vos E, Newberger E.  Victimization of mothers of abused children: a controlled study. Pediatrics . 1989;;84:531-535.
16 +
Istvan J.  Stress, anxiety, and birth outcomes: a critical review of the evidence. Psychol Bull . 1986;;100:331-348.
17 +
Zuckerman B, Amaro H, Bauchner H, Cabral H.  Depressive symptoms during pregnancy: relationship to poor health behaviors. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1989;;160: 1107-1111.
18 +
Brown GW, Harris TO. Social Origins of Depression . New York, NY: Free Press; 1978;.
19 +
McAnarney ER, Stevens-Simon C.  Maternal psychological stress/depression and low birth weight: is there a relationship? AJDC . 1990;;144:789-792.
20 +
Norbeck JS, Tilden VP.  Life stress, social support, and emotional disequilibrium in complications of pregnancy: a prospective, multivariate study. J Health Soc Behav . 1983;;24:30-46.
21 +
Picone TA, Allen LH, Schramm MM, Olsen PN.  Pregnancy outcome in North American women, I: effects of diet, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress on maternal weight gain. Am J Clin Nutr . 1989;;6:1205-1213.
22 +
Boyce WT, Schaefer C, Vitti C.  Permanence and change: psychological factors on the outcome of adolescent pregnancy. Soc Sci Med . 1985;;11:1279-1287.
23 +
Homer CJ, James SA, Siegal E.  Work-related psychological stress and risk of preterm, low birthweight delivery. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:173-177.
24 +
Homer CJ, Beresford SA, James SA, Siegal E, Wilcox S.  Work related physical exertion and risk of preterm, low birthweight delivery. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol . 1990;;4:161-174.
25 +
Mammelle N, Laumon B, Lazar P.  Prematurity and occupational activity during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol . 1984;;119:309-322.
26 +
Zuckerman BS, Frank D, Hingson R, et al.  Impact of maternal work outside the home during pregnancy on neonatal outcome. Pediatrics . 1986;;77:459-464.
27 +
Teitelman AM, Welch LS, Hellenbrand KG, Bracken MB.  Effect of maternal work activity on preterm birth and low birth weight. Am J Epidemiol . 1990;;131:104-114.
28 +
Harlap S, Shiono P.  Alcohol, smoking, and incidence of spontaneous abortions in the first and second trimester. Lancet . 1980;;2:173-176.
29 +
Kline J, Shrout P, Stein Z, Susser M, Warburton D.  Drinking during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Lancet . 1980;;2:176-180.
30 +
Ouellette EM, Rosett HL, Rosman NP, Weiner L.  Adverse effects on offspring of maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1977;;297:528-530.
31 +
Mills JL, Graubard BI, Harley EE, Rhoads GG, Berendes HW.  Maternal alcohol consumption and birth weight: how much drinking during pregnancy is safe? JAMA 1984;;252:1875-1879.
32 +
Little RE.  Moderate alcohol use during pregnancy and decreased infant birth weight. Am J Public Health . 1977;;67:1154-1156.
33 +
Zuckerman B, Frank DA, Hingson R, et al.  Effects of maternal marijuana and cocaine use on fetal growth. N Engl J Med . 1989;;320:762-768.
34 +
Hatch EE, Bracken MB.  Effect of marijuana use in pregnancy on fetal growth. Am J Epidemiol . 1986;;124:986-993.
35 +
Linn S, Schoenbaum SC, Monson RR, Rosner R, Stubblefield PC, Ryan KJ.  The association of marijuana use with outcome of pregnancy. Am J Public Health . 1983;; 73:1161-1164.
36 +
Chasnoff IJ, Burns WJ, Schnoll SH, Burns KA.  Cocaine use in pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:666-669.
37 +
Simpson WJ.  A preliminary report of cigarette smoking and the incidence of prematurity. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1957;;73:808-815.
38 +
Butler NR, Goldstein H, Ross EM.  Cigarette smoking in pregnancy: its influence on birth weight and prenatal mortality. BMJ . 1972;;2:127-130.
39 +
Abel EL.  Smoking during pregnancy: a review of effects on growth and development of offspring. Hum Biol . 1980;;52:593-625.
40 +
Public Health Service. Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention . Washington, DC: Public Health Service; 1979;: 24-25. US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare publication PHS 79-55071.
41 +
Stein Z, Kline J.  Smoking, alcohol and reproduction. Am J Public Health . 1983;; 73:1154-1156.
42 +
Gortmaker SL.  The effects of prenatal care upon the health of the newborn. Am J Public Health . 1979;;69:653-660.
43 +
Eisner V, Brazie JV, Pratt MW, Hexter AC.  The risk of low birthweight. Am J Public Health . 1979;;69:887-893.
44 +
Elster AB.  The effect of maternal age, parity and prenatal care in perinatal outcome in adolescent mothers. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1984;;149:845-847.
45 +
Showstack JA, Budetti PP, Minkler D.  Factors associated with birthweight: an exploration of the roles of prenatal care and length of gestation. Am J Public Health . 1984;;74:1003-1008.
46 +
Donaldson DJ, Billy JOG.  The impact of prenatal care on birthweight: evidence from an international data set. Med Care . 1984;;22:177-188.
47 +
Walker L. The Battered Woman Syndrome . New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co Inc; 1984;.
48 +
Gondolf E, Fisher E. Battered Women as Survivors: An Alternative to Treating Learned Helplessness . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1988;.
49 +
Goldberg W, Tomlanovich M.  Domestic violence in the emergency department new findings. JAMA . 1984;;251:3259-3264.
50 +
Helton A, Anderson E, McFarlane J. Protocol of Care for the Battered Woman . Houston, Tex: Metropolitan Houston Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation; 1986;.

Figures

Tables

Interactive Graphics

Video

Country-Specific Mortality and Growth Failure in Infancy and Yound Children and Association With Material Stature

Use interactive graphics and maps to view and sort country-specific infant and early dhildhood mortality and growth failure data and their association with maternal

1 +
Helton A, McFarlane J, Anderson E.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
2 +
Hilliard P.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Obstet Gyncecol . 1985;;66:185-190.
3 +
Amaro H, Fried L, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance abuse. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
4 +
Gelles R.  Violence and pregnancy: are pregnant women at greater risk of abuse? J Marriage Fam . (August) 1988;:841-847.
5 +
Bullock L, McFarlane J.  The birthweight/battering connection. Am J Nurs . 1989;; 1153-1155.
6 +
Institute of Medicine. Preventing Low Birthweight . Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 1985;:72.
7 +
Gelles R.  Violence and pregnancy: a note on the extent of the problem and needed services. Fam Coordinator . 1975;;24:81-86.
8 +
Helton A, Snodgrass F.  Battering during pregnancy: intervention services. Birth . 1987;;14:142-147.
9 +
Hawkins D.  Devalued racial stereotypes: ideological barriers to the prevention of family violence among blacks.  In: Hampton R, ed. Violence in the Black Family: Correlates and Consequences . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1987;.
10 +
Sorenson S, Stein J, Seigal J, Golding J, Burnam A.  The prevalence of adult sexual assault. Am J Epidemiol . 1987;;126:1154-1163.
11 +
Russell DEH.  The prevalence of wife rape.  In: Russell D, ed. Rape and Marriage . New York, NY: Collier Books; 1982;:57-72.
12 +
Pearlman MD, Tintinalli JE, Lorenz RP.  Blunt trauma during pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1990;;323:1609-1613.
13 +
Sammons MN.  Battered and pregnant. Am J Maternal Child Nurs . 1981;;6:246-250.
14 +
Gary LT.  Feminist practice and family violence.  In: Bricker-Jenkins M, Hooyman NR, Gottlieb N, eds. Feminist Social Work Practice in Clinical Settings . Newbury Park, Calif: Sage Publications; 1991;:19-32.
15 +
McKibben L, De Vos E, Newberger E.  Victimization of mothers of abused children: a controlled study. Pediatrics . 1989;;84:531-535.
16 +
Istvan J.  Stress, anxiety, and birth outcomes: a critical review of the evidence. Psychol Bull . 1986;;100:331-348.
17 +
Zuckerman B, Amaro H, Bauchner H, Cabral H.  Depressive symptoms during pregnancy: relationship to poor health behaviors. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1989;;160: 1107-1111.
18 +
Brown GW, Harris TO. Social Origins of Depression . New York, NY: Free Press; 1978;.
19 +
McAnarney ER, Stevens-Simon C.  Maternal psychological stress/depression and low birth weight: is there a relationship? AJDC . 1990;;144:789-792.
20 +
Norbeck JS, Tilden VP.  Life stress, social support, and emotional disequilibrium in complications of pregnancy: a prospective, multivariate study. J Health Soc Behav . 1983;;24:30-46.
21 +
Picone TA, Allen LH, Schramm MM, Olsen PN.  Pregnancy outcome in North American women, I: effects of diet, cigarette smoking, and psychological stress on maternal weight gain. Am J Clin Nutr . 1989;;6:1205-1213.
22 +
Boyce WT, Schaefer C, Vitti C.  Permanence and change: psychological factors on the outcome of adolescent pregnancy. Soc Sci Med . 1985;;11:1279-1287.
23 +
Homer CJ, James SA, Siegal E.  Work-related psychological stress and risk of preterm, low birthweight delivery. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:173-177.
24 +
Homer CJ, Beresford SA, James SA, Siegal E, Wilcox S.  Work related physical exertion and risk of preterm, low birthweight delivery. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol . 1990;;4:161-174.
25 +
Mammelle N, Laumon B, Lazar P.  Prematurity and occupational activity during pregnancy. Am J Epidemiol . 1984;;119:309-322.
26 +
Zuckerman BS, Frank D, Hingson R, et al.  Impact of maternal work outside the home during pregnancy on neonatal outcome. Pediatrics . 1986;;77:459-464.
27 +
Teitelman AM, Welch LS, Hellenbrand KG, Bracken MB.  Effect of maternal work activity on preterm birth and low birth weight. Am J Epidemiol . 1990;;131:104-114.
28 +
Harlap S, Shiono P.  Alcohol, smoking, and incidence of spontaneous abortions in the first and second trimester. Lancet . 1980;;2:173-176.
29 +
Kline J, Shrout P, Stein Z, Susser M, Warburton D.  Drinking during pregnancy and spontaneous abortion. Lancet . 1980;;2:176-180.
30 +
Ouellette EM, Rosett HL, Rosman NP, Weiner L.  Adverse effects on offspring of maternal alcohol abuse during pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1977;;297:528-530.
31 +
Mills JL, Graubard BI, Harley EE, Rhoads GG, Berendes HW.  Maternal alcohol consumption and birth weight: how much drinking during pregnancy is safe? JAMA 1984;;252:1875-1879.
32 +
Little RE.  Moderate alcohol use during pregnancy and decreased infant birth weight. Am J Public Health . 1977;;67:1154-1156.
33 +
Zuckerman B, Frank DA, Hingson R, et al.  Effects of maternal marijuana and cocaine use on fetal growth. N Engl J Med . 1989;;320:762-768.
34 +
Hatch EE, Bracken MB.  Effect of marijuana use in pregnancy on fetal growth. Am J Epidemiol . 1986;;124:986-993.
35 +
Linn S, Schoenbaum SC, Monson RR, Rosner R, Stubblefield PC, Ryan KJ.  The association of marijuana use with outcome of pregnancy. Am J Public Health . 1983;; 73:1161-1164.
36 +
Chasnoff IJ, Burns WJ, Schnoll SH, Burns KA.  Cocaine use in pregnancy. N Engl J Med . 1985;;313:666-669.
37 +
Simpson WJ.  A preliminary report of cigarette smoking and the incidence of prematurity. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1957;;73:808-815.
38 +
Butler NR, Goldstein H, Ross EM.  Cigarette smoking in pregnancy: its influence on birth weight and prenatal mortality. BMJ . 1972;;2:127-130.
39 +
Abel EL.  Smoking during pregnancy: a review of effects on growth and development of offspring. Hum Biol . 1980;;52:593-625.
40 +
Public Health Service. Healthy People: The Surgeon General's Report on Health Promotion and Disease Prevention . Washington, DC: Public Health Service; 1979;: 24-25. US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare publication PHS 79-55071.
41 +
Stein Z, Kline J.  Smoking, alcohol and reproduction. Am J Public Health . 1983;; 73:1154-1156.
42 +
Gortmaker SL.  The effects of prenatal care upon the health of the newborn. Am J Public Health . 1979;;69:653-660.
43 +
Eisner V, Brazie JV, Pratt MW, Hexter AC.  The risk of low birthweight. Am J Public Health . 1979;;69:887-893.
44 +
Elster AB.  The effect of maternal age, parity and prenatal care in perinatal outcome in adolescent mothers. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1984;;149:845-847.
45 +
Showstack JA, Budetti PP, Minkler D.  Factors associated with birthweight: an exploration of the roles of prenatal care and length of gestation. Am J Public Health . 1984;;74:1003-1008.
46 +
Donaldson DJ, Billy JOG.  The impact of prenatal care on birthweight: evidence from an international data set. Med Care . 1984;;22:177-188.
47 +
Walker L. The Battered Woman Syndrome . New York, NY: Springer Publishing Co Inc; 1984;.
48 +
Gondolf E, Fisher E. Battered Women as Survivors: An Alternative to Treating Learned Helplessness . Lexington, Mass: Lexington Books; 1988;.
49 +
Goldberg W, Tomlanovich M.  Domestic violence in the emergency department new findings. JAMA . 1984;;251:3259-3264.
50 +
Helton A, Anderson E, McFarlane J. Protocol of Care for the Battered Woman . Houston, Tex: Metropolitan Houston Chapter of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation; 1986;.

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