title: Domestic abuse during the previous year in a sample of postpartum women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and the correlates of domestic abuse in women presenting for a postpartum visit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected via a cross-sectional survey. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine characteristics of women reporting abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five obstetric clinics in Wisconsin.
  
  
  METHODS
  One thousand five hundred nineteen women who presented for a postpartum visit. Most were White, well educated, employed, and married.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physical and/or emotional abuse in the previous 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred twelve (7.4%) women were victims of abuse. Women who reported abuse were more likely to screen positive for postpartum depression (odds ratio 4.21, 95% confidence interval 2.19-8.09) be unmarried (odds ratio 7.05, 95% confidence interval 3.39-14.64), be older than 35 year (odds ratio 2.45, 95% confidence interval 1.10-5.50), be not in the labor force (odds ratio 2.39, 95% confidence interval 1.16-4.90), be of Hispanic ethnicity (odds ratio 2.73, 95% confidence interval 1.07-6.96), and have a partner who binge drinks (odds ratio 3.09, confidence interval 1.49-6.43).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  One in 14 women who present for a postpartum visit report emotional or physical abuse in the previous year. Although certain factors are more highly associated with domestic abuse, the high prevalence of abuse in this population supports the use of routine screening of women for domestic abuse.
authors.affiliation: Wm S Middleton Memorial VA Hospital, Madison, WI 53705, USA. hecertain@wisc.edu
authors.forename: Heather E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Certain
authors.forename: Meridith
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jagodzinski
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fleming
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health