TY - JOUR
T1 - Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the first year postpartum in an Australian pregnancy cohort study
AU - Gartland, D.
AU - Hemphill, S. A.
AU - Hegarty, K.
AU - Brown, S. J.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by a project grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (ID 191222, Melbourne, Australia); a VicHealth Public Health Research Fellowship (2002–2006, Melbourne Australia); and National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia Career Development Award (ID 491205 2008–2012, Melbourne, Australia) awarded to Stephanie J. Brown. Dr Hemphill was supported by funding from an Australian Research Council Discovery Project (DPO663371 2006–2008).
PY - 2011/7
Y1 - 2011/7
N2 - To assess intimate partner violence (IPV) in a longitudinal cohort study during and after pregnancy, and examine social and economic factors encouraging or inhibiting violence. Nulliparous women were recruited from 6 public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Selfadministered questionnaires included standardised measures assessing fear of an intimate partner at enrolment, 6 and 12 months postpartum; and period prevalence of physical and emotional abuse in the first 12 months postpartum. 1,507 women completed baseline data (mean gestation 15 weeks). Response fractions at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were 95, 93 and 90%, respectively. 5.1 and 5.4% of women reported fear in pregnancy and the first year postpartum, respectively. 17% experienced physical and/or emotional abuse in the first year postpartum. Most women who reported fear of an intimate partner in the first year after the index birth reported fear before and/or during pregnancy. Women working in early pregnancy who qualified for paid maternity leave had significantly reduced odds of reporting combined physical and emotional IPV in the first 12 months postpartum compared with women not working (Adj. OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.55). Women working but not eligible for paid leave had reduced odds compared with women not working (Adj. OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24-1.00). Models adjusted for maternal age, relationship status, income and education level. Few first time mothers reported fear for the first time after childbirth suggesting that IPV more commonly commences prior to the first birth. Paid maternity leave may have broader social benefits beyond immediate financial benefits to women and families.
AB - To assess intimate partner violence (IPV) in a longitudinal cohort study during and after pregnancy, and examine social and economic factors encouraging or inhibiting violence. Nulliparous women were recruited from 6 public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Selfadministered questionnaires included standardised measures assessing fear of an intimate partner at enrolment, 6 and 12 months postpartum; and period prevalence of physical and emotional abuse in the first 12 months postpartum. 1,507 women completed baseline data (mean gestation 15 weeks). Response fractions at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were 95, 93 and 90%, respectively. 5.1 and 5.4% of women reported fear in pregnancy and the first year postpartum, respectively. 17% experienced physical and/or emotional abuse in the first year postpartum. Most women who reported fear of an intimate partner in the first year after the index birth reported fear before and/or during pregnancy. Women working in early pregnancy who qualified for paid maternity leave had significantly reduced odds of reporting combined physical and emotional IPV in the first 12 months postpartum compared with women not working (Adj. OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.08-0.55). Women working but not eligible for paid leave had reduced odds compared with women not working (Adj. OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.24-1.00). Models adjusted for maternal age, relationship status, income and education level. Few first time mothers reported fear for the first time after childbirth suggesting that IPV more commonly commences prior to the first birth. Paid maternity leave may have broader social benefits beyond immediate financial benefits to women and families.
KW - Intimate partner violence
KW - Longitudinal cohort study
KW - Postpartum
KW - Pregnancy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80051682737&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10995-010-0638-z
DO - 10.1007/s10995-010-0638-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 20628799
AN - SCOPUS:80051682737
SN - 1092-7875
VL - 15
SP - 570
EP - 578
JO - Maternal and Child Health Journal
JF - Maternal and Child Health Journal
IS - 5
ER -