Citation

McFarlane JM, Parker B, Soeken K, Silva C, Reel S. J. Obstet. Gynecol. Neonatal Nurs. 1998; 27(1): 64-69.

Affiliation

Texas Woman's University, Houston 77030, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1998, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

9475129

Abstract

This study evaluates an intervention protocol administered during pregnancy for encouraging safety-seeking behaviors of abused women. The participants were 132 pregnant women recruited from public prenatal clinics that reported physical or sexual abuse prior or during the present pregnancy. Data were collected from an assessment on pregnant women using the Abuse Screen and Safety Assessment. After completion of the Safety Assessment, the women received an intervention protocol. Each woman received the intervention three times during pregnancy: at entry into the study; and two additional times evenly spaced throughout pregnancy. In this group of 132 pregnant women who were abused, adoption of safety behaviors significantly increased after the first intervention session. Furthermore, the adoption of safety behavior occurred across all ethnic groups. Pregnant women, who were abused, were offered an intervention protocol report showing a significant increase in safety behavior adoption during and after pregnancy. Abuse during pregnancy is common and the identification of abuse and immediate clinical intervention that includes information about safety behaviors can result in safety behavior adoption that may prevent future abuse and increase the safety and well-being of women and infants.

Language: en