Abstract
Objectives
The objectives were to estimate the prevalence of physical and sexual intimate partner
violence (IPV) among a regional sample of the general obstetric population as the
lifetime prevalence, as the 1-year period prevalence before pregnancy, and as the
prevalence during the index pregnancy; to assess the rates of disclosure and help-seeking
behaviour with IPV; and to determine the acceptability of screening for IPV.
Study design
A multi-centred survey surveillance study was carried out among pregnant women attending
five large hospitals in the province of East Flanders, Belgium as a regional probability
sample of the general obstetric population. Data were collected through an anonymous,
written questionnaire that included the Abuse Assessment Screen and additional questions
on the circumstances of the most recent episode of physical or sexual violence, on
disclosure and help-seeking behaviour, on reporting assault to the police, and on
the acceptability of routine screening for IPV.
Results
The sampling frame consisted of 1362 women who received the questionnaire at the antenatal
service during a 2-month study period, of which 537 (mean age 29.4 years, S.D. 4.09)
returned the envelope (response rate 39.4%). The lifetime prevalence of IPV was estimated
to be 10.1% (95% CI 7.7–13.0%) and the period prevalence of IPV during pregnancy and/or
in the year preceding pregnancy 3.4% (95% CI 2.1–5.4%). There was a significant difference
in the reported lifetime prevalence of IPV between women attending with a partner
and those who came to the prenatal visit unattended by their partner in particular
(6.8% versus 13.9%, p = 0.010). Overall, only 19.2% (23 out of 120) and as few as 6.6% (4 out of 61) of the
victims of physical and sexual abuse respectively sought medical care by consulting
a general practitioner, gynaecologist, or an emergency department. Routine screening
for IPV by a general practitioner or gynaecologist was found to be largely acceptable.
Conclusions
In our highly medicalised society, women experiencing partner violence rarely disclose
abuse to the widely available health care services, unless they are directly asked
about it, which appears an acceptable practice. Hence, there is a definite need to
improve women's awareness regarding abuse and their help-seeking behaviour at a public
health level.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 26, 2007
Accepted:
April 4,
2007
Received in revised form:
March 26,
2007
Received:
March 15,
2006
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
