title: [Domestic violence against women before, during and after pregnancy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patterns of abuse before, during, and after pregnancy and the possible factors related to abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A community-based face-to-face survey of a representative group of women having a child aged 6 to 18 months in 32 communities of Tianjin, Liaoning, Henan and Shaanxi provinces was carried out between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence rate of domestic violence (emotional, sexual and physical) occurred in any period (before, during and after pregnancy) against women was 12.6%. The prevalence of domestic violence against women during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy (4.3%) was relatively lower than that during the 12 months before pregnancy (9.1%) and during the mean 11 months postpartum period (8.3%). Domestic violence against women before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during and post pregnancy. Abused women and perpetrators were more likely to be in lower social class were smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Abused women were more likely to be witnessing violence in the past and having poor relationship with partner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of domestic violence against women was high which called for in-depth training and improving awareness for all health professionals.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Women and Children's Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Su-fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jiu-ling
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Chuan-yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Qu
authors.forename: Ren-ying
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Yan
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors