Domestic violence risk during and after pregnancy: findings from a British longitudinal study

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were to examine the rates of domestic violence reported during and after pregnancy and to assess the importance of family adversity.

Design: Prospective longitudinal cohort study.

Setting: Bristol Avon, Southwest England.

Population: Seven thousand five hundred and ninety-one pregnant women with due dates between 1.4.91 and 31.12.92.

Methods: Questionnaires administered at 18 weeks of gestation and 8 weeks, 8 months, 21 months and 33 months postpartum.

Main outcome measures: The experience of emotional or physical cruelty by an intimate partner at each time point.

Results: Fewer women reported domestic violence victimization during pregnancy than they did postpartum (18 weeks of gestation: 1% physical cruelty, 4.8% emotional cruelty, 5.1% any victimization; 33 months postpartum: 2.9% physical, 10.8% emotional, 11% any victimization). Women who reported being victimized during pregnancy also reported significantly higher levels of social adversity during pregnancy. The number of social adversities reported during pregnancy also predicted postpartum victimization. Women who reported only one adversity during pregnancy were 2.73 (95% CI, 2.16-3.45) times more likely to report physical victimization at 33 months postpartum. Women who reported 5 adversities during pregnancy were 14.69 (95% CI, 7.35-29.37) times more likely to report such victimization at 33 months postpartum. For emotional cruelty, women who reported only one adversity during pregnancy were 2.10 (95% CI 1.80-2.46) times more likely to report emotional victimization at 33 months postpartum and 6.10 (95% CI 3.51-10.59) times more likely to report such victimization when five or more adversities were present during pregnancy.

Conclusions: Levels of social adversity reported in pregnancy are important predictors of concurrent and future victimization. Screening for social adversity factors could help identify women at high risk for future domestic violence.