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Abstract
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OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in Spanish women during the 12 months prior to delivery and to identify associated risk factors using two screening instruments.
DESIGN: A population-based study. SETTING: Fifteen public hospitals in southern Spain. POPULATION: A total of 779 women admitted to the hospital obstetrics department.
METHODS: IPV was diagnosed with the Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) and Index of Spouse Abuse (ISA) screening instruments. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and associated risk factors of IPV during pregnancy.
RESULTS: According to the AAS, IPV during the pre-delivery year was experienced by 7.7% of the women, emotional abuse by 4.8%, and physical abuse by 1.7%. According to the ISA, non-physical IPV during this period was reported by 21.0% of the women and physical IPV by 3.6%. After adjusting for socio-demographic characteristics, multivariate regression models showed that an uncommitted relationship and absence of kin support were significantly associated with an increased IPV risk during the pre-delivery year. Employment was a significant protective factor against any of the three forms of IPV (AAS) and physical IPV (ISA) during this period.
CONCLUSIONS: A high proportion of women in Spain experience IPV during or just before pregnancy. Pregnant women in an uncommitted relationship or without kin support were at greater risk of IPV. Screening instruments for IPV during pregnancy should be evaluated in different cultural contexts. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Language: en |