Citation

Martin SL, Macy RJ, Sullivan K, Magee ML. Trauma Violence Abuse 2007; 8(2): 135-148.

Affiliation

Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7445, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1524838007301223

PMID

17545571

Abstract

This literature review examines intimate partner violence in relation to pregnancy-associated femicide and suicide. Empirical publications were eligible for review if they included information on intimate partner violence and examined females who were pregnant/postpartum and who were victims of femicide/attempted femicide and/or suicide/attempted suicide. Nine publications met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Results suggest that intimate partners perpetrate one- to two-thirds of the pregnancy-associated femicides in the United States and that pregnant women make up 5% of urban intimate partner femicides. Intimate partner abuse during pregnancy appears to be a risk factor for severe intimate partner violence, including attempted/completed femicide. So little information exists concerning intimate partner violence in pregnancy-associated suicides that it is impossible to draw conclusions regarding this topic; however, a hospital-based study suggests that intimate partner violence may be a risk factor for attempting suicide while pregnant. More research is needed concerning intimate partner pregnancy-associated femicide and suicide so that evidenced-based preventive/therapeutic interventions may be developed.

Language: en