title: Women's views and experiences of antenatal enquiry for domestic abuse during pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to explore the acceptability of antenatal enquiry for domestic abuse from the perspective of women using maternity services. It also sought to understand the experiences of referral and support offered to women who had positively disclosed abuse.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multimethod approach was adopted including quantitative and qualitative elements. The survey assessed women's views of the acceptability and impact of routine enquiry for domestic abuse. Interviews aimed, to understand the views and experiences of women who had positively disclosed abuse during their contact with maternity services.
  
  
  RESULTS
  94.4% of those surveyed felt comfortable with a midwife asking about abuse. 96.6% of the participants also believed it was appropriate for a midwife to ask and that midwives should be able to respond to positive disclosure. Interviewees subject to abuse during pregnancy were happy to be questioned, even though they did not always feel able to disclose immediately.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women had a positive view of antenatal enquiry for domestic abuse in healthcare settings and support its continuation. Women expect to be asked and that midwives can respond appropriately. Raising the issue creates a culture in which women are made aware of the impact of abuse and understand there are avenues of support even if she decides not to leave the relationship. Women may choose not to disclose about the abuse at the initial time of asking, for fear of their own safety but asking signifies that she can disclose about at a later contact.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Salmon
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery Logan Campus, Griffith University, Meadowbrook Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: Applied Statistics Group, Faculty of Environment and Technology, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D008880:Midwifery; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: antenatal enquiry; domestic abuse; pregnancy; women's views and experiences