[Domestic violence against women before, during and after pregnancy].
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.
Guo
Su-fang
SF
National Center for Women and Children's Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100083, China.
Wu
Jiu-ling
JL
Qu
Chuan-yan
CY
Yan
Ren-ying
RY
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