@article{ref1,
title="Physical and mental health of women exposed to intimate partner violence in the 10 years after having their first child: an Australian prospective cohort study of  first-time mothers",
journal="BMJ open",
year="2020",
author="Mensah, Fiona K. and Hegarty, Kelsey and FitzPatrick, Kelly M. and Conway, Laura J. and Brown, Stephanie J. and Papadopoullos, Sandra and Woolhouse, Hannah and Giallo, Rebecca and Gartland, Deirdre",
volume="10",
number="12",
pages="e040891-e040891",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To investigate mental and physical health of mothers exposed to recent and early postpartum intimate partner violence (IPV) in the 10 years after having  their first child. <br><br>DESIGN: Prospective pregnancy cohort study. SETTING: Women were  recruited at six metropolitan public maternity hospitals in Melbourne, Australia and  followed up at 1, 4 and 10 years post partum. STUDY MEASURES: Exposure to physical  and/or emotional IPV was measured using the Composite Abuse Scale at 1, 4 and 10  years. At 10-year follow-up, mothers reported on physical and mental health, and  functional health status. PARTICIPANTS: 1507 first-time mothers enrolled at mean of  15 weeks' gestation. <br><br>RESULTS: One in three women experienced IPV during the 10 years  after having their first child. Women experiencing recent IPV (19.1%) reported worse  physical and mental health than women not reporting IPV. Compared with women not  reporting IPV, women experiencing recent IPV had higher odds of poor functional  health status (Adj OR=4.5, 95% CI 3.2 to 6.3), back pain (Adj OR=2.0, 95% CI 1.4 to  2.9), incontinence (Adj OR=1.8, 95% CI 1.2 to 2.6), depressive symptoms (Adj OR=4.9,  95% CI 3.2 to 7.5), anxiety (Adj OR=5.1, 95% CI 3.0 to 8.6) and post-traumatic  stress symptoms (Adj OR=7.2, 95% CI 4.6 to 11.1) at 10 years. Women with past IPV at  1 and/or 4 years (15.7% of the cohort) also had higher odds of physical and mental  health problems. There was evidence of a gradient in health outcomes by recency of  exposure to IPV. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Both recent and past exposure to IPV are associated  with poor maternal physical and mental health 10 years after a first birth. Health  services and advocacy organisations providing support to women need to be aware of  the consistent relationship between IPV and a range of physical and mental health  conditions, which may persist even after IPV appears to have ceased.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2044-6055",
doi="10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040891",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-040891"
}