Prevalence of emotional, physical and sexual abuse among pregnant women in six European countries. (20th May 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lukasse, Mirjam; Schroll, Anne‐Mette; Ryding, Elsa Lena; Campbell, Jacquelyn; Karro, Helle; Kristjansdottir, Hildur; Laanpere, Made; Steingrimsdottir, Thora; Tabor, Ann; Temmerman, Marleen; Van Parys, An‐Sofie; Wangel, Anne‐Marie; Schei, Berit
• Is Part Of: Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica. Volume 93:Number 7(2014)
• Page Start: 669
• Page End: 677
• Publication Date: 2014-05-20
• Subjects: Gynecology -- Periodicals; Pregnancy -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1111/aogs.12392
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0001-6349

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="aogs12392-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>The primary objective was to investigate the prevalence of a history of abuse among women attending routine antenatal care in six northern European countries. Second, we explored current suffering from reported abuse.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>A prospective cohort study.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>Routine antenatal care in Belgium, Iceland, Denmark, Estonia, Norway, and Sweden between March 2008 and August 2010.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Population</title> <p>A total of 7174 pregnant women.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>A questionnaire including a validated instrument measuring emotional, physical and sexual abuse.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measure</title> <p>Proportion of women reporting emotional, physical and sexual abuse. Severe current suffering defined as a Visual Analogue Scale score of ≥6.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>An overall lifetime prevalence of any abuse was reported by 34.8% of the pregnant women. The ranges across the six countries of lifetime prevalence were 9.7–30.8% for physical abuse, 16.2–27.7% for emotional abuse, and 8.3–21.1% for sexual abuse. Few women reported current sexual abuse, 0.4% compared with 2.2% current physical abuse and 2.7% current emotional abuse. Current severe suffering was reported by 6.8% of the women who reported physical abuse, 9.8% of those who reported sexual abuse and 13.5% for emotional abuse.</p> </sec> <sec id="aogs12392-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>A high proportion of pregnant women attending routine antenatal care report a history of abuse. About one in ten of them experiences severe current suffering from the reported abuse. In particular, these women might benefit from being identified in the antenatal care setting and being offered specialized care.</p> </sec> </abstract>