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Relationship between domestic violence and postnatal depression among pregnant Chinese women
Author(s) -
Zhang Yong,
Zou Shaohong,
Cao Yuping,
Zhang Yalin
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.08.011
Subject(s) - medicine , domestic violence , psychosocial , pregnancy , depression (economics) , edinburgh postnatal depression scale , postpartum depression , population , psychiatry , intervention (counseling) , poison control , obstetrics , suicide prevention , depressive symptoms , environmental health , anxiety , macroeconomics , biology , economics , genetics
Objective To investigate the prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy and postnatal depression, and to explore the relationship between domestic violence and postnatal depression among Chinese women. Methods In a cross‐sectional survey, 846 pregnant women were screened with the Abuse Assessment Screen; 215 women completed the postnatal follow‐up. All participants underwent psychosocial assessment, with the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale being used for the evaluation of postnatal depression. Results The overall prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy was 11.3%, and the most common form of domestic violence was psychologic abuse. The follow‐up interviews showed a higher prevalence of postnatal depression among women who had been abused during pregnancy (25.1%) than among those who had not (6.0%). Psychologic abuse during pregnancy, an unexpected pregnancy, an attitude of acceptance toward violence, and concern over the newborn's health were related with postnatal depression. Conclusion Domestic violence during pregnancy and related factors contributed to postnatal depression in a population of Chinese women. The findings emphasize the importance of intervention among vulnerable populations in low‐income countries.