Domestic violence risk during and after pregnancy: findings from a British longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
The objectives of this study were to examine the rates of domestic violence reported during and after pregnancy and to assess the importance of family adversity.


METHODS
Prospective longitudinal cohort study.


METHODS
Bristol Avon, Southwest England.


METHODS
Seven thousand five hundred and ninety-one pregnant women with due dates between 1.4.91 and 31.12.92.


METHODS
Questionnaires administered at 18 weeks of gestation and 8 weeks, 8 months, 21 months and 33 months postpartum.


METHODS
The experience of emotional or physical cruelty by an intimate partner at each time point.


RESULTS
Fewer women reported domestic violence victimization during pregnancy than they did postpartum (18 weeks of gestation: 1% physical cruelty, 4.8% emotional cruelty, 5.1% any victimization; 33 months postpartum: 2.9% physical, 10.8% emotional, 11% any victimization). Women who reported being victimized during pregnancy also reported significantly higher levels of social adversity during pregnancy. The number of social adversities reported during pregnancy also predicted postpartum victimization. Women who reported only one adversity during pregnancy were 2.73 (95% CI, 2.16-3.45) times more likely to report physical victimization at 33 months postpartum. Women who reported 5 adversities during pregnancy were 14.69 (95% CI, 7.35-29.37) times more likely to report such victimization at 33 months postpartum. For emotional cruelty, women who reported only one adversity during pregnancy were 2.10 (95% CI 1.80-2.46) times more likely to report emotional victimization at 33 months postpartum and 6.10 (95% CI 3.51-10.59) times more likely to report such victimization when five or more adversities were present during pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Levels of social adversity reported in pregnancy are important predictors of concurrent and future victimization. Screening for social adversity factors could help identify women at high risk for future domestic violence.
Bowen
Erica
E
Unit of Perinatal and Pediatric Epidemiology, University of Bristol, ALSPAC, Bristol, UK.
Heron
Jon
J
Waylen
Andrea
A
Wolke
Dieter
D
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*