
Intimate partner violence against Spanish pregnant women: application of two screening instruments to assess prevalence and associated factors
Author(s) -
Velasco Casilda,
Luna Juan D.,
Martin Aurelia,
Caño Africa,
MartindelasHeras Stella
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/aogs.12459
Subject(s) - domestic violence , spouse , medicine , psychological abuse , population , physical abuse , intimate partner , psychiatry , poison control , injury prevention , demography , environmental health , sociology , anthropology
Objective To investigate the prevalence of intimate partner violence 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 Intimate partner violence was diagnosed with the Abuse Assessment Screen and Index of Spouse Abuse screening instruments. Main outcome measures Prevalence and associated risk factors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Results According to the Abuse Assessment Screen, intimate partner violence 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 Index of Spouse Abuse, non‐physical intimate partner violence during this period was reported by 21.0% of the women and physical intimate partner violence 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 intimate partner violence risk during the pre‐delivery year. Employment was a significant protective factor against any of the three forms of intimate partner violence (Abuse Assessment Screen) and physical intimate partner violence (Index of Spouse Abuse) during this period. Conclusions A high proportion of women in Spain experience intimate partner violence during or just before pregnancy. Pregnant women in an uncommitted relationship or without kin support were at greater risk of intimate partner violence. Screening instruments for intimate partner violence during pregnancy should be evaluated in different cultural contexts.