ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is elevated among rural residents and contributes to maternal morbidity and mortality. Postpartum health insurance expansion efforts could address multiple causes of maternal morbidity and mortality, including IPV. The objective of this study was to describe the relationship between perinatal health insurance, IPV, and postpartum abuse screening among rural US residents. METHODS: Using 2016-2020 data on rural residents from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we assessed self-report of experiencing physical violence by an intimate partner and rates of abuse screening at postpartum visits. Health insurance at childbirth and postpartum was categorized as private, Medicaid, or uninsured. We also measured insurance transitions from childbirth to postpartum (continuous private, continuous Medicaid, Medicaid to private, and Medicaid to uninsured). FINDINGS: IPV rates varied by health insurance status at childbirth, with the highest rates among Medicaid beneficiaries (7.7%), compared to those who were uninsured (1.6%) or privately insured (1.6%). When measured by insurance transitions, the highest IPV rates were reported by those with continuous Medicaid coverage (8.6%), followed by those who transitioned from Medicaid at childbirth to private insurance (5.3%) or no insurance (5.9%) postpartum. Nearly half (48.1%) of rural residents lacked postpartum abuse screening, with the highest proportion among rural residents who were uninsured at childbirth (66.1%) or postpartum (52.1%). CONCLUSION: Rural residents who are insured by Medicaid before or after childbirth are at elevated risk for IPV. Medicaid policy efforts to improve maternal health should focus on improving detection and screening for IPV among rural residents.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To describe rates and predictors of perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) and rates and predictors of not being screened for abuse among rural and urban IPV victims who gave birth. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: This analysis utilized 2016-2020 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) data from 45 states and three jurisdictions. STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional study using multistate survey data. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: This analysis included 201,413 survey respondents who gave birth in 2016-2020 (n = 42,193 rural and 159,220 urban respondents). We used survey-weighted multivariable logistic regression models, stratified by rural/urban residence, to estimate adjusted predicted probabilities and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for two outcomes: (1) self-reported experiences of IPV (physical violence by a current or former intimate partner) and (2) not receiving abuse screening at health care visits before, during, or after pregnancy. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Rural residents had a higher prevalence of perinatal IPV (4.6%) than urban residents (3.2%). Rural respondents who were Medicaid beneficiaries, 18-35 years old, non-Hispanic white, Hispanic (English-speaking), or American Indian/Alaska Native had significantly higher predicted probabilities of experiencing perinatal IPV compared with their urban counterparts. Among respondents who experienced perinatal IPV, predicted probabilities of not receiving abuse screening were 21.3% for rural and 16.5% for urban residents. Predicted probabilities of not being screened for abuse were elevated for rural IPV victims who were Medicaid beneficiaries, 18-24 years old, or unmarried, compared to urban IPV victims with those same characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: IPV is more common among rural birthing people, and rural IPV victims are at higher risk of not being screened for abuse compared with their urban peers. IPV prevention and support interventions are needed in rural communities and should focus on universal abuse screening during health care visits and targeted support for those at greatest risk of perinatal IPV.
