Partner, workplace, and stranger abuse during pregnancy in Germany.
Stöckl, Heidi;
Hertlein, Linda;
Friese, Klaus;
Stöckl, Doris;
(2010)
Partner, workplace, and stranger abuse during pregnancy in Germany.
International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics, 111 (2).
pp. 136-139.
ISSN 0020-7292
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2010.06.014
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence, perpetrators, sociodemographic correlates, and health impacts of psychological, physical, and sexual abuse during pregnancy among women attending a maternity ward in Germany. METHODS: A written questionnaire was given to pregnant women in a maternity ward of a university hospital in Munich. Abuse during pregnancy was assessed using the Abuse Assessment Screen. RESULTS: Of 552 women, 401 completed the questionnaire for a response rate of 72.6%. The prevalence of psychological, physical, or sexual abuse during pregnancy by any perpetrator was 6.7% (n = 27); the main perpetrators were women's partners and work colleagues. After controlling for the effect of age, psychological, physical, or sexual abuse during pregnancy was significantly associated with a history of abuse, low education level of the woman and the father of her child, short relationship duration, unintended pregnancy, financial problems caused by the pregnancy, having more than 3 children, and insufficient social support. Women who reported abuse during pregnancy were significantly more likely to smoke and to have adverse maternal health outcomes. CONCLUSION: Psychological, physical, or sexual abuse during pregnancy was experienced by 1 in 15 women who attended a maternity ward in Munich and adversely affected maternal health outcomes.