Domestic violence against women before, during and after pregnancy / 中华流行病学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To examine patterns of abuse before, during, and after pregnancy and the possible factors related to abuse.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A community-based face-to-face survey of a representative group of women having a child aged 6 to 18 months in 32 communities of Tianjin, Liaoning, Henan and Shaanxi provinces was carried out between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence rate of domestic violence (emotional, sexual and physical) occurred in any period (before, during and after pregnancy) against women was 12.6%. The prevalence of domestic violence against women during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy (4.3%) was relatively lower than that during the 12 months before pregnancy (9.1%) and during the mean 11 months postpartum period (8.3%). Domestic violence against women before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during and post pregnancy. Abused women and perpetrators were more likely to be in lower social class were smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol. Abused women were more likely to be witnessing violence in the past and having poor relationship with partner.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The prevalence of domestic violence against women was high which called for in-depth training and improving awareness for all health professionals.</p>

Domestic abuse on women in China before, during, and after pregnancy / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

<p><b>BACKGROUND</b>Some researchers found that partner-perpetrated physical violence increased in frequency and severity during the postpartum period compared with the antenatal period, however, limited data exists describing abuse of women in China. The purpose of this study was to examine patterns of abuse in China before, during, and after pregnancy, and explore possible factors related to abuse.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A community-based face-to-face survey of a representative group of women who had a child aged 6 to 18 months in 32 communities of Tianjin, Liaoning, Henan, and Shaanxi provinces was carried out between November 1, 2001 and February 28, 2002.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The prevalence of domestic abuse (emotional, sexual, or physical) occurring in any period (before, during, or after pregnancy) was 12.6%. The prevalence of abuse during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy (4.3%) was relatively lower compared with the prevalence of abuse during the 12 months before pregnancy (9.1%) and after delivery (8.3%) during the mean 11-month postpartum period studied. Abuse before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during pregnancy and abuse after pregnancy, and abuse during any previous period was a strong risk factor for subsequent abuse. Many women who suffered abuse of any kind generally experienced multiple acts over time and most acts were not severe. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the factors associated with abuse during pregnancy included women previously witnessing domestic violence, a poor relationship with the partner, socioeconomic level, alcohol consumption, and smoking.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>It is necessary to do in-depth training and to raise awareness of partner abuse among all health professionals. Routine screening of abuse in maternity clinics is advocated to decrease the adverse impact of abuse on women and fetuses.</p>