title: Interpersonal violence and the pregnant homeless woman.
abstract: Homelessness continues to increase in the United States. Families comprise the fastest growing segment of the homeless population, and estimates suggest that women head 90% of homeless families. Pregnant homeless women are exposed to more cumulative violence than are comparable low-income, housed women. Intervention strategies that may improve health care provided to pregnant homeless women include abuse and safety assessment protocols and the use of a hand-carried health record. These interventions are directed at efforts to preserve the woman's autonomy and confidentiality, reduce areas of client-provider conflict, and generally improve encounters between the client and the health care system.
authors.affiliation: Primary Care Nursing Department, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, USA.
authors.forename: L C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Robrecht
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D018585:Battered Women; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009773:Obstetric Nursing; D009922:Oregon; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States; D014754:Violence