title: Prevalence of violence against pregnant women and associated maternal and neonatal complications in Leon, Mexico.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to determine the prevalence of violence against women and associated maternal and neonatal complications in a developing country setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  cross-sectional study using a face-to-face questionnaire.
  
  
  METHODS
  postpartum area at a tertiary care referral hospital in Leon, Mexico.
  
  
  METHODS
  1623 postpartum women.
  
  
  METHODS
  women were recruited at 24-72 h post partum. The diagnosis and severity of violence were assessed using a modified questionnaire based on the Index of Spouse Abuse and Severity of Violence against Women Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  of 1623 women, 711 (43.8%) were diagnosed with violence during pregnancy; 563 (79.1%) experienced mild violence and 148 (20.9%) experienced severe violence. Of the women who experienced violence, 72.9% experienced psychological violence, 15.8% experienced physical violence and 11.3% experienced sexual violence. Maternal complications were higher in women who experienced violence (30.2% vs 23.6%, p = 0.004). Women who experienced sexual violence had more maternal complications (43.2%), and women who experienced psychological violence had more neonatal complications (54.2%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  violence during pregnancy is quite common in the study setting. Maternal complications are higher in women who experience violence during pregnancy. The type of violence has different effects on maternal and neonatal health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  it is recommended that pregnant women who are experiencing violence should be identified during antenatal care to avoid maternal or neonatal complications.
authors.affiliation: Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Division of Health Research, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. gustavo.romerog@imss.gob.mx
authors.forename: Gustavo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Romero-Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Víctor Hugo
authors.initials: VH
authors.lastname: Cruz-Arvizu
authors.forename: Claudia Araceli
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Regalado-Cedillo
authors.forename: Ana Lilia
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Ponce-Ponce de León
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007229:Infant Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D008429:Maternal Welfare / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012938:Social Perception; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult