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Personal and psychosocial predictors of psychological abuse by partners during and after pregnancy: a longitudinal cohort study in a community sample
Author(s) -
EscribàAgüir V,
RoyoMarqués M,
Artazcoz L,
Romito P,
RuizPérez I,
MartínBaena D
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/1471-0528.12051
Subject(s) - psychosocial , domestic violence , pregnancy , medicine , psychological intervention , population , childbirth , social support , psychiatry , postpartum period , poison control , clinical psychology , psychology , suicide prevention , environmental health , social psychology , biology , genetics
Objective To describe the incidence and risk factors of psychological intimate partner violence ( IPV ) during pregnancy and the first year after childbirth. Design Longitudinal cohort study. Setting Nine primary care centers in the Valencia Region (Spain). Population A consecutive sample of 1400 women in the first trimester of pregnancy, attending the prenatal programme in the Valencia Region of Spain in 2008, with follow‐up in the third trimester of pregnancy, and at 5 and 12 months postpartum. A total of 888 women (66.5%) participated in all four phases. Methods A logistic regression model was fitted using generalised estimating equations to assess the effects of previous partner violence, consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs and social support on subsequent psychological partner violence. Main outcome measure Psychological IPV during follow‐up. Results We observed an increase in the incidence of psychological IPV after birth, particularly at 5 months postpartum. The strongest predictor of psychological IPV was having experienced abuse 12 months before pregnancy ( OR 10.46, 95% CI 2.40–45.61). Other predictors were consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs by the partner or a family member ( OR 3.50, 95% CI 1.38–8.85) and lack of affective social support ( OR 2.83, 95% CI 1.31–6.11). Conclusions Previous abuse and psychosocial risk factors predict partner psychological abuse after birth. Monitoring psychological IPV and effective interventions are needed not only during pregnancy but also during the postpartum period.