title: Prenatal care in adult women exposed to childhood sexual abuse.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several case reports show a negative impact of childhood sexual abuse (CSA) on prenatal care. The study aimed to systematically investigate this association in a larger study group.
  
  
  METHODS
  CSA was investigated by face-to-face interviews and by a modified questionnaire developed by Wyatt. All study participants completed a self-administered questionnaire designed to investigate the consequences of CSA on prenatal care during adulthood. Data from 85 women after CSA were compared to those of 170 matched women without such experiences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women exposed to CSA had fewer than five prenatal consultations more often than unexposed women (26%/7%; P<0.0001). Of the 85 women with a positive history for CSA, 9.4% had been asked for such antecedents, 36.5% had intense memories on original abuse situations during pregnancy, 56.6% mentioned specific consequences of CSA on prenatal care and 61.2% were satisfied with obstetrical support. Exposed women (62.4%) felt significantly less prepared for labor than unexposed women (75.9%) (P<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSA experiences are associated with impaired prenatal care. These results underscore the compelling need to improve prenatal care in women exposed to CSA through better education of obstetricians regarding the effects of CSA and in their ability to provide empathetic professional support.
authors: Division of Reproductive Endocrinology, University Hospital Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland. Brigitte.Leeners@usz.ch
authors: Brigitte
authors: B
authors: Leeners
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Stiller
authors: Emina
authors: E
authors: Block
authors: Gisela
authors: G
authors: Görres
authors: Werner
authors: W
authors: Rath
authors: Sibil
authors: S
authors: Tschudin
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000523:psychology*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult