Childhood abuse and neglect histories in low-income women: prevalence in a menopausal population.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of self-reported childhood abuse and neglect in a primary care population of menopausal women.


METHODS
A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study.


RESULTS
Three of four women (119/160, 74%) reported histories of childhood abuse and neglect. The prevalence of emotional abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and physical neglect were 43%, 35%, 33%, 49%, and 44%, respectively. Eleven percent of the sample reported maltreatment in all five categories of trauma. Fifteen percent of women studied met criteria for severe-extreme levels of maltreatment, usually in more than one category.


CONCLUSIONS
A high prevalence of self-reported childhood trauma was detected in our low-income population of menopausal women attending primary care clinics. Because of the potential impact of childhood trauma on physical and mental health, clinicians need to inquire about childhood maltreatment in women of menopausal age and appropriately refer women to mental health intervention and treatment.
Medrano
Martha A
MA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. medtranom@uthscsa.edu
Brzyski
Robert G
RG
Bernstein
David P
DP
Ross
Jeanette S
JS
Hyatt-Santos
Jill M
JM
D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology