Violence during pregnancy among women with or at risk for HIV infection.
OBJECTIVE
This study estimated the prevalence of violence during pregnancy in relation to HIV infection.


METHODS
Violence, current partnerships, and HIV risk behaviors were assessed among 336 HIV-seropositive and 298 HIV-seronegative at-risk pregnant women.


RESULTS
Overall, 8.9% of women experienced recent violence; 21.5% currently had abusive partners. Violence was experienced by women in all partnership categories (range = 3.8% with nonabusive partners to 53.6% with physically abusive partners). Neither experiencing violence nor having an abusive partner differed by serostatus. Receiving an HIV diagnosis prenatally did not increase risk. Disclosure-related violence occurred, but was rare.


CONCLUSIONS
Many HIV-infected pregnant women experience violence, but it is not typically attributable to their serostatus. Prenatal services should incorporate screening and counseling for all women at risk for violence.
Koenig
Linda J
LJ
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, Mail Stop E-06, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Whitaker
Daniel J
DJ
Royce
Rachel A
RA
Wilson
Tracey E
TE
Callahan
Michelle R
MR
Fernandez
M Isabel
MI
D015331:Cohort Studies; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D018023:HIV Seronegativity; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012747:Sexual Partners / Q000145:classification