title: Maternal and fetal outcomes of intimate partner violence associated with pregnancy in the Latin American and Caribbean region.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very high rates of intimate partner violence during pregnancy (IPV-P) are reported in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) but data on prevalence and obstetric-related outcomes are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To conduct a literature review on risk factors, prevalence, and adverse obstetric-related outcomes of IPV-P in LAC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of studies in MEDLINE (1946-2012) and LILACS (1982-2012), and hand searching of reference lists of included studies. Search terms were variations of partner abuse and pregnancy in LAC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were excluded if they did not include IPV-P prevalence or if the perpetrator was not an intimate partner.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study quality was assessed via US Preventive Services Task Force criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 31 studies included, prevalence rates ranged from 3% to 44%. IPV-P was significantly associated with unintended pregnancies and adverse maternal (depression, pregnancy-related symptom distress, inadequate prenatal care, vaginal bleeding, spontaneous abortion, gestational weight gain, high maternal cortisol, hypertension, pre-eclampsia, STIs) and infant (prematurity, low birth weight, neonatal complications, stillbirth) outcomes (grade II-2 and 3 evidence).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPV-P is highly prevalent in LAC, with poor obstetric-related outcomes. Clinicians must identify women experiencing IPV-P and institute appropriate interventions and referrals to avoid its deleterious consequences.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; University Health Network, Toronto, Canada. Electronic address: donna.stewart@uhn.ca.
authors.forename: Donna E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D017691:Caribbean Region / Q000453:epidemiology; D017579:Domestic Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*
keywords: Battered women; Caribbean region; Intimate partner violence; Latin America; Pregnancy; South America; Spousal abuse