Pregnancy-associated violent deaths: the role of intimate partner violence.
This literature review examines intimate partner violence in relation to pregnancy-associated femicide and suicide. Empirical publications were eligible for review if they included information on intimate partner violence and examined females who were pregnant/postpartum and who were victims of femicide/attempted femicide and/or suicide/attempted suicide. Nine publications met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Results suggest that intimate partners perpetrate one- to two-thirds of the pregnancy-associated femicides in the United States and that pregnant women make up 5% of urban intimate partner femicides. Intimate partner abuse during pregnancy appears to be a risk factor for severe intimate partner violence, including attempted/completed femicide. So little information exists concerning intimate partner violence in pregnancy-associated suicides that it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding this topic; however, a hospital-based study suggests that intimate partner violence may be a risk factor for attempting suicide while pregnant. More research is needed concerning intimate partner pregnancy-associated femicide and suicide so that evidenced-based preventive/therapeutic interventions may be developed.
Martin
Sandra L
SL
Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, USA.
Macy
Rebecca J
RJ
Sullivan
Kristen
K
Magee
Melissa L
ML
D005260:Female; D006708:Homicide; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013405:Suicide