Top

Published in:

01-11-2007 | Original Article

The Prevalence of Domestic Violence Among Pregnant Women Who Were Attended in Iran University of Medical Science Hospitals

Authors: Shayesteh Jahanfar, Zahra Malekzadegan

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 8/2007

Abstract

The prevalence of domestic violence (DV) during pregnancy could be high and is associated with significant psychological and physical impairment for mother and the fetus. The major objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of DV in expectant mothers who have attended the Iran University of Medical Sciences’ Hospitals (IUMS). In this cross-sectional study, 1,800 subjects were interviewed using a modified questionnaire to determine the prevalence of DV. Consecutive sampling was performed in six major hospitals of IUMS according to the number of referred patients. The prevalence of DV was found to be 60.6% including three types of physical, psychological, and sexual violence with the prevalence of 14.6, 60.5 and 23.5%, respectively. Severe physical DV was 5.3%. Severe psychological and sexual DV were also found in about 24.6 and 3.4% of cases, respectively. DV had a high prevalence in this study. It is recommended that all accessible pregnant women be screened for DV. Study of the prevalence of DV within the community with a larger sample size, and using cluster-sampling methodology would be of immense value.

Browne, A. (1997). When battered women kill. 2nd ed (p. 232). Australia: Collier MacMillan.

Cokkinides, V. E., Coker, A. L., Sanderson, M., Addy, C., & Bethea, L. (1999). Physical violence during pregnancy: maternal complications and birth outcomes. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 93(5 Pt 1), 661–666.PubMedCrossRef

Covington, D. L., Hage, M., Hall, T., & Mathis, M. (2001). Preterm delivery and the severity of violence during pregnancy. Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 46(12), 1031–1039.PubMed

Croft, J. B., Anda, R. F., Dietz, P. M., Chapman, D. P., Santelli, J., Williamson, D. F., et al. (2001). Abused boys, battered mothers, and male involvement in teen pregnancy. Pediatrics, 107(2), 19.CrossRef

Davidson, L. L., Grisso, J. A., Garcis-Moreno, C., King, V. J., & Marchant, S. (2001). Training programs for health care professionals in domestic violence. Journal of Womens Health and Gender Based Medicine, 10, 953–969.CrossRef

Fernandez, F. M., & Krueger, P. M. (1999). Domestic violence: Effect on pregnancy outcome. Journal of American Osteopathology Association, 99(5), 254.

Gazmararian, J. A., Adams, M. M., Saltzman, L. E., Johnson, C. H., Bruce, F. C., Marks, J. S., et al. (1995). The relationship between pregnancy intended ness and physical violence in mothers of newborns. The PRAMS Working Group. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 85(6), 1031–1038.PubMedCrossRef

Gazmararian, J. A., Lazorick, S., Spite, A. M., Ballar, T. J., Saltzman, L. E., & Marks, J. S. (1996). Prevalence of violence against pregnant women: A review of the literature. Journal of American Medical Association, 275, 1915–1920.CrossRef

Gells, R. J. (1975). Violence and pregnancy: A note on the extent of the problem and needed services. Family Coordination, 24(1), 81–86.CrossRef

Hedin, L. W., & Janson, P. O. (2000). Domestic violence during pregnancy. The prevalence of physical injuries, substance use, abortions and miscarriages. Journal Acta Obstet Gynecol Scan 2000, 79(8), 625–630.CrossRef

Helten, J. (1996). Battering during pregnancy. American Journal of Nursing, 86, 910–913.CrossRef

Hillard, P. A. (1985). Physical abuse in pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 66, 185–190.

Irion, O., Boulvain, M., Straccia, A. T., & Bonnet, J. (2000). Emotional, physical and sexual violence against women before or during pregnancy. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 107(10), 1306–1308.

Jewkes, R. (2001). Relationship dynamics and teenage pregnancy in South Africa. Social Science and Medicine, 52(5), 733–744.PubMedCrossRef

Klevens J. (2001). Physical violence against women in Santa Fe de Begota, Clombia: Prevalence and related factors. Pan American Journal of Public Health, 9(2), 78–83.PubMed

Mooney, J. (1993). The hidden figure. Domestic violence in North London—the findings of a survey conducted on domestic violence in the North London Borough of Islington (pp. 120–126). London: Center for Criminology, Middlesex University.

Moreno Rojas, A. (1996). Women, pregnancy and violence. Syndrome of abuse of pregnant women. Review of Colombia Obstetrics and Gynecology, 47(2), 87–91.

Parker, B., & Chouaf, K. (2002). Intimate partner violence following pregnancy. Journal of Arch Pediatric and Adolescence Medicine, 156(4), 313–314.

Poole, G. V., Martin, J. N., Jr., Perry, K. G., Jr., Griswold, J. A., Lambert, C. J., & Rhodes, R. S. (1996). Trauma in pregnancy: The role of interpersonal violence. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 174(6), 1873–1878.PubMedCrossRef

Ramsay, J., Richardson, J., Carter, Y. H., Davidson, L. L., & Feder, G. (2002). Should health professionals screen women for domestic violence? Systematic review. British Medical Journal, 325(7359), 314–327.PubMedCrossRef

Rodriguez, E., Lasch, K. E., Chandra, P., & Lee, J. (2001). The relation of family violence, employment status, welfare benefits, and alcohol drinking in the United States. WJM: Western Journal of Medicine, 174(5), 317–323.CrossRefPubMed

Smith, D. M. (2001). SECTION I: Family therapy and the family health. Journal of Prevention and Intervention in the Community, 21(1), 53–64.CrossRef

Stark, E., Flitcraft, A., & Frazier, W. (1999). Medicine and patriarchal violence: The social construction of a private event. International Journal of Health Survey, 9, 461–493.

Stewart, D. E., & Cecutti, A. (1993). Physical abuse in pregnancy. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 149, 1257–1263.PubMed

Taggart, L., & Mattson, S. (1996). Delay in prenatal care as a result of battering in pregnancy. Journal of Health Care Women International, 17, 25–34.CrossRef

Van Hightower, N. R., Gorton, J., & DeMoss, C. L. (2000). Predictive models of domestic violence and fear of intimate partners among migrant and seasonal farm worker women. Journal of Family Violence, 15(2), 137–154.CrossRef

Webster, J., Sweett, S., & Stolz, T. A. (1994). Domestic violence in pregnancy. A prevalence study. Medical Journal of Australia, 17, 161(8), 463–464.

Wiemann, C. M., Agurcia, C. A., Berenson, A. B., Volk, R. J., & Rickert, V. I. (2000). Pregnant adolescents: Experiences and behaviors associated with physical assault by an intimate partner. Maternal and Children Health Journal, 4(2), 93–101.CrossRef

Wiemann, C. M., Berenson, A. B., & Landwehr, B. M. (1995). Racial and ethnic correlates of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use in a pregnant population. Journal Violence Victim, 40, 571–578.

Title: The Prevalence of Domestic Violence Among Pregnant Women Who Were Attended in Iran University of Medical Science Hospitals
Authors: Shayesteh Jahanfar
Zahra Malekzadegan
Publication date: 01-11-2007
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 8/2007
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-007-9084-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The Prevalence of Domestic Violence Among Pregnant Women Who Were Attended in Iran University of Medical Science Hospitals

Abstract

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 8/2007

Attributions in a Hypothetical Child Sexual Abuse Case: Roles of Abuse Type, Family Response and Respondent Gender

Intimate Partner Violence and Psychological Health in a Sample of Asian and Caucasian Women: The Roles of Social Support and Coping

Co-Occurrence of Interparental Violence and Child Physical Abuse and It’s Effect on the Adolescents’ Behavior

Mothering and Domestic Violence: A Longitudinal Analysis

Characteristics of Callers to the Domestic Abuse Helpline for Men

The Co-occurrence of Child and Intimate Partner Maltreatment in the Family: Characteristics of the Violent Perpetrators