Prevalence of emotional, physical and sexual abuse among pregnant women in six European countries.
OBJECTIVE
The primary objective was to investigate the prevalence of a history of abuse among women attending routine antenatal care in six northern European countries. Second, we explored current suffering from reported abuse.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Routine antenatal care in Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Sweden between March 2008 and August 2010.


METHODS
A total of 7174 pregnant women.


METHODS
A questionnaire including a validated instrument measuring emotional, physical and sexual abuse.


METHODS
Proportion of women reporting emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Severe current suffering defined as a Visual Analogue Scale score of ≥6.


RESULTS
An overall lifetime prevalence of any abuse was reported by 34.8% of the pregnant women. The ranges across the six countries of lifetime prevalence were 9.7-30.8% for physical abuse, 16.2-27.7% for emotional abuse, and 8.3-21.1% for sexual abuse. Few women reported current sexual abuse, 0.4% compared with 2.2% current physical abuse and 2.7% current emotional abuse. Current severe suffering was reported by 6.8% of the women who reported physical abuse, 9.8% of those who reported sexual abuse and 13.5% for emotional abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
A high proportion of pregnant women attending routine antenatal care report a history of abuse. About one in ten of them experiences severe current suffering from the reported abuse. In particular, these women might benefit from being identified in the antenatal care setting and being offered specialized care.
Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Health, Nutrition and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
Mirjam
M
Lukasse
Anne-Mette
AM
Schroll
Elsa Lena
EL
Ryding
Jacquelyn
J
Campbell
Helle
H
Karro
Hildur
H
Kristjansdottir
Made
M
Laanpere
Thora
T
Steingrimsdottir
Ann
A
Tabor
Marleen
M
Temmerman
An-Sofie
AS
Van Parys
Anne-Marie
AM
Wangel
Berit
B
Schei
D000328:Adult; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People; D011295:Prenatal Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries / Q000453:epidemiology; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Abuse; pregnancy; prevalence; violence against women