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June 26, 1996, Vol 275, No. 24 >
ARTICLE | June 26, 1996

Prevalence of Violence Against Pregnant Women FREE

Julie A. Gazmararian, MPH, PhD; Suzanne Lazorick, MD, MPH; Alison M. Spitz, MS, MPH; Terri J. Ballard, MPH, DrPH; Linda E. Saltzman, PhD; James S. Marks, MD, MPH
[+] Author Affiliations

Reprints: Julie A. Gazmararian, MPH, PhD, The Prudential Center for Health Care Research, 2859 Paces Ferry Rd, Suite 820, Atlanta, GA 30339.


JAMA. 1996;275(24):1915-1920. doi:10.1001/jama.1996.03530480057041
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Article
References

Objectives.  —To summarize the methods and findings of studies examining the prevalence of violence against pregnant women and to synthesize these findings by comparing study characteristics for studies with similar and dissimilar results.

Data Sources.  —MEDLINE, POPLINE, Psychological Abstracts, and Sociological Abstracts databases were searched for all articles pertaining to violence during pregnancy for the period 1963 through August 1995.

Study Selection.  —Thirteen studies were selected on the basis of specific criteria: a sample with initially unknown violence status; a clear statement of research question(s), with focus on measuring the prevalence of violence; descriptions of the sample, data source, and data collection methods; and data from the United States or another developed country.

Data Extraction.  —Relevant data were extracted to compare studies by study description, methods, and results.

Data Synthesis.  —Evidence from the studies we reviewed indicates that the prevalence of violence during pregnancy ranges from 0.9% to 20.1%. Measures of violence, populations sampled, and study methods varied considerably across studies, and these factors may affect prevalence estimates. Studies that asked about violence more than once during detailed in-person interviews or asked later in pregnancy (during the third trimester) reported higher prevalence rates (7.4%20.1%). The lowest estimate was reported by women who attended a private clinic and responded to a self-administered questionnaire provided to them by a person who was not a health care provider.

Conclusions.  —Violence may be a more common problem for pregnant women than some conditions for which they are routinely screened and evaluated. Future research that more accurately measures physical violence during pregnancy would contribute to more effective design and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies.(JAMA. 1996;275:1915-1920)

REFERENCES

1 +
Stark E, Flitcraft AH.  Spouse abuse.  In: Rosenberg ML, Fenley MA, eds. Violence in America: A Public Health Approach . New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1991;:138-139.
2 +
Straus MA, Gelles RJ. Physical Violence in American Families: Risk Factors and Adaptations to Violence in 8,145 Families . New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers; 1990;.
3 +
Gelles RJ.  Violence and pregnancy: a note on the extent of the problem and needed resources. Fam Coordinator . 1975;;14:40-47.
4 +
Bowker LH. Beating Wife Beating . Lexington, Ky: Lexington Books; 1983;.
5 +
Amaro H, Fried LE, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance abuse. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
6 +
Berenson AB, Stiglich NJ, Wilkinson GS, Anderson GD.  Drug abuse and other risk factors for physical abuse in pregnancy among white non-Hispanic, black, and Hispanic women. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:1491-1499.
7 +
Berenson AB, San Miguel VV, Wilkinson GS.  Prevalence of physical and sexual assault in pregnant adolescents. J Adolesc Health . 1992;;13:466-469.
8 +
Campbell JC, Poland ML, Waller JB, Ager J.  Correlates of battering during pregnancy. Res Nurs Health . 1992;;15:219-226.
9 +
Helton AS, McFarlane J, Anderson ET.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
10 +
Hillard PJA.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol . 1985;;66:185-190.
11 +
O'Campo P, Gielen AC, Faden RR, Kass N.  Verbal abuse and physical violence among a cohort of low-income pregnant women. Worn Health Issues . 1994;;4:29-36.
12 +
Parker B, McFarlane J, Soeken K.  Abuse during pregnancy: effects on maternal complications and birth weight in adult and teenage women. Obstet Gynecol . 1994;;84:323-328.
13 +
Sampselle CM, Petersen BA, Murtland TL, Oakley DJ.  Prevalence of abuse among pregnant women choosing certified nurse-midwife or physician providers. J Nurse Midwifery . 1992;;37:269-273.
14 +
Stewart DE, Cecutti A.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1257-1263.
15 +
Webster J, Sweett S, Stolz TA.  Domestic violence in pregnancy: a prevalence study. Med J Aust . 1994;;161:466-470.
16 +
Gazmararian JA, Adams MM, Saltzman LE, et al.  The relationship between pregnancy intendedness and physical violence in mothers of newborns. Obstet Gynecol . 1995;;85:1031-1038.
17 +
Gelles RJ.  Violence and pregnancy: are pregnant women at greater risk of abuse? J Marriage Fam . 1988;;50:841-847.
18 +
Wyatt GE, Peters SD.  Issues in the definition of child abuse in prevalence research. Child Abuse Negl . 1986;;10:231-240.
19 +
Wyatt GE, Peters SD.  Methodologic considerations in research on the prevalence of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl . 1986;;10:241-251.
20 +
Berenson AB, San Miguel VV, Wilkinson GS.  Violence and its relationship to substance use in adolescent pregnancy. Soc Adolesc Med . 1992;;13: 470-474.
21 +
McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Bullock L.  Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA . 1992;;267:3176-3178.
22 +
Parker B, McFarlane J, Soeken K, Torres S, Campbell D.  Physical and emotional abuse in pregnancy: a comparison of adult and teenage women. Nurs Res . 1993;;42:173-178.
23 +
Gelles RJ, Straus MA. Intimate Violence . New York, NY: Simon & Schuster; 1988;.
24 +
Gielen AC, O'Campo PJ, Faden RR, Kass NE, Xue X.  Interpersonal conflict and physical violence during the childbearing year. Soc Sci Med . 1994;; 39:781-787.
25 +
Stewart DE.  Incidence of postpartum abuse in women with a history of abuse during pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J . 1994;;151:1602-1604.
26 +
Louis Harris & Associates. Second National Family Violence Survey . New York, NY: Louis Harris & Associates; 1985;.
27 +
Helton AS. March of Dimes Protocol of Care for the Battered Woman . White Plains, NY: March of Dimes; 1987;.
28 +
Straus MA.  Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: the Conflict Tactics (CT) Scale. J Marriage Fam . 1979;;41:57-88.
29 +
Straus MA, Gelles RJ, Steinmetz SK. Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family . New York, NY: Doubleday/Anchor; 1980;.
30 +
Hudson WW, McIntosh SR.  The assessment of spouse abuse: two quantifiable dimensions. J Marriage Fam . 1981;;43:873-888.
31 +
Campbell JC.  Nursing assessment for risk of homicide with battered women. Adv Nurs Sci . 1986;; 8:36-51.
32 +
Bradburn NM, Sudman S. Improving Interview Method and Questionnaire Design . San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass Inc; 1981;.
33 +
Smith MD.  The incidence and prevalence of woman abuse in Toronto. Violence Vict . 1987;;2:173-187.
34 +
Koss MP.  Detecting the scope of rape: a review of prevalence research methods. J Interpersonal Violence . 1993;;8:198-222.
35 +
Sorenson SB, Saftlas AF.  Violence and women's health. Ann Epidemiol . 1994;;140-145.
36 +
Cunningham FG, MacDonald PD, Gant NF, et al. Williams Obstetrics . 19th ed. East Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange; 1993;.
37 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Physicians and domestic violence: ethical considerations. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3190-3193.
38 +
Scott CJ, Matricciani RM.  Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards to improve care for victims of abuse. Md Med J . 1994;;43:891-898.

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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 +
Stark E, Flitcraft AH.  Spouse abuse.  In: Rosenberg ML, Fenley MA, eds. Violence in America: A Public Health Approach . New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1991;:138-139.
2 +
Straus MA, Gelles RJ. Physical Violence in American Families: Risk Factors and Adaptations to Violence in 8,145 Families . New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction Publishers; 1990;.
3 +
Gelles RJ.  Violence and pregnancy: a note on the extent of the problem and needed resources. Fam Coordinator . 1975;;14:40-47.
4 +
Bowker LH. Beating Wife Beating . Lexington, Ky: Lexington Books; 1983;.
5 +
Amaro H, Fried LE, Cabral H, Zuckerman B.  Violence during pregnancy and substance abuse. Am J Public Health . 1990;;80:575-579.
6 +
Berenson AB, Stiglich NJ, Wilkinson GS, Anderson GD.  Drug abuse and other risk factors for physical abuse in pregnancy among white non-Hispanic, black, and Hispanic women. Am J Obstet Gynecol . 1991;;164:1491-1499.
7 +
Berenson AB, San Miguel VV, Wilkinson GS.  Prevalence of physical and sexual assault in pregnant adolescents. J Adolesc Health . 1992;;13:466-469.
8 +
Campbell JC, Poland ML, Waller JB, Ager J.  Correlates of battering during pregnancy. Res Nurs Health . 1992;;15:219-226.
9 +
Helton AS, McFarlane J, Anderson ET.  Battered and pregnant: a prevalence study. Am J Public Health . 1987;;77:1337-1339.
10 +
Hillard PJA.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol . 1985;;66:185-190.
11 +
O'Campo P, Gielen AC, Faden RR, Kass N.  Verbal abuse and physical violence among a cohort of low-income pregnant women. Worn Health Issues . 1994;;4:29-36.
12 +
Parker B, McFarlane J, Soeken K.  Abuse during pregnancy: effects on maternal complications and birth weight in adult and teenage women. Obstet Gynecol . 1994;;84:323-328.
13 +
Sampselle CM, Petersen BA, Murtland TL, Oakley DJ.  Prevalence of abuse among pregnant women choosing certified nurse-midwife or physician providers. J Nurse Midwifery . 1992;;37:269-273.
14 +
Stewart DE, Cecutti A.  Physical abuse in pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J . 1993;;149:1257-1263.
15 +
Webster J, Sweett S, Stolz TA.  Domestic violence in pregnancy: a prevalence study. Med J Aust . 1994;;161:466-470.
16 +
Gazmararian JA, Adams MM, Saltzman LE, et al.  The relationship between pregnancy intendedness and physical violence in mothers of newborns. Obstet Gynecol . 1995;;85:1031-1038.
17 +
Gelles RJ.  Violence and pregnancy: are pregnant women at greater risk of abuse? J Marriage Fam . 1988;;50:841-847.
18 +
Wyatt GE, Peters SD.  Issues in the definition of child abuse in prevalence research. Child Abuse Negl . 1986;;10:231-240.
19 +
Wyatt GE, Peters SD.  Methodologic considerations in research on the prevalence of child sexual abuse. Child Abuse Negl . 1986;;10:241-251.
20 +
Berenson AB, San Miguel VV, Wilkinson GS.  Violence and its relationship to substance use in adolescent pregnancy. Soc Adolesc Med . 1992;;13: 470-474.
21 +
McFarlane J, Parker B, Soeken K, Bullock L.  Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA . 1992;;267:3176-3178.
22 +
Parker B, McFarlane J, Soeken K, Torres S, Campbell D.  Physical and emotional abuse in pregnancy: a comparison of adult and teenage women. Nurs Res . 1993;;42:173-178.
23 +
Gelles RJ, Straus MA. Intimate Violence . New York, NY: Simon & Schuster; 1988;.
24 +
Gielen AC, O'Campo PJ, Faden RR, Kass NE, Xue X.  Interpersonal conflict and physical violence during the childbearing year. Soc Sci Med . 1994;; 39:781-787.
25 +
Stewart DE.  Incidence of postpartum abuse in women with a history of abuse during pregnancy. Can Med Assoc J . 1994;;151:1602-1604.
26 +
Louis Harris & Associates. Second National Family Violence Survey . New York, NY: Louis Harris & Associates; 1985;.
27 +
Helton AS. March of Dimes Protocol of Care for the Battered Woman . White Plains, NY: March of Dimes; 1987;.
28 +
Straus MA.  Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: the Conflict Tactics (CT) Scale. J Marriage Fam . 1979;;41:57-88.
29 +
Straus MA, Gelles RJ, Steinmetz SK. Behind Closed Doors: Violence in the American Family . New York, NY: Doubleday/Anchor; 1980;.
30 +
Hudson WW, McIntosh SR.  The assessment of spouse abuse: two quantifiable dimensions. J Marriage Fam . 1981;;43:873-888.
31 +
Campbell JC.  Nursing assessment for risk of homicide with battered women. Adv Nurs Sci . 1986;; 8:36-51.
32 +
Bradburn NM, Sudman S. Improving Interview Method and Questionnaire Design . San Francisco, Calif: Jossey-Bass Inc; 1981;.
33 +
Smith MD.  The incidence and prevalence of woman abuse in Toronto. Violence Vict . 1987;;2:173-187.
34 +
Koss MP.  Detecting the scope of rape: a review of prevalence research methods. J Interpersonal Violence . 1993;;8:198-222.
35 +
Sorenson SB, Saftlas AF.  Violence and women's health. Ann Epidemiol . 1994;;140-145.
36 +
Cunningham FG, MacDonald PD, Gant NF, et al. Williams Obstetrics . 19th ed. East Norwalk, Conn: Appleton & Lange; 1993;.
37 +
Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs, American Medical Association.  Physicians and domestic violence: ethical considerations. JAMA . 1992;;267: 3190-3193.
38 +
Scott CJ, Matricciani RM.  Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards to improve care for victims of abuse. Md Med J . 1994;;43:891-898.

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