This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Julie A. Gazmararian, MPH, PhD; Suzanne Lazorick, MD, MPH; Alison M. Spitz, MS, MPH; Terri J. Ballard, MPH, DrPH; Linda E. Saltzman, PhD; James S. Marks, MD, MPH

JAMA. 1996;275(24):1915-1920.

Abstract
Objectives.
—To summarize the methods and findings of studies examining the prevalence of violence against pregnant women and to synthesize these findings by comparing study characteristics for studies with similar and dissimilar results.

Data Sources.
—MEDLINE, POPLINE, Psychological Abstracts, and Sociological Abstracts databases were searched for all articles pertaining to violence during pregnancy for the period 1963 through August 1995.

Study Selection.
—Thirteen studies were selected on the basis of specific criteria: a sample with initially unknown violence status; a clear statement of research question(s), with focus on measuring the prevalence of violence; descriptions of the sample, data source, and data collection methods; and data from the United States or another developed country.

Data Extraction.
—Relevant data were extracted to compare studies by study description, methods, and results.

Data Synthesis.
—Evidence from the studies we reviewed indicates that the prevalence of violence during pregnancy ranges from 0.9% to 20.1%. Measures of violence, populations sampled, and study methods varied considerably across studies, and these factors may affect prevalence estimates. Studies that asked about violence more than once during detailed in-person interviews or asked later in pregnancy (during the third trimester) reported higher prevalence rates (7.4%20.1%). The lowest estimate was reported by women who attended a private clinic and responded to a self-administered questionnaire provided to them by a person who was not a health care provider.

Conclusions.
—Violence may be a more common problem for pregnant women than some conditions for which they are routinely screened and evaluated. Future research that more accurately measures physical violence during pregnancy would contribute to more effective design and implementation of prevention and intervention strategies.

(JAMA. 1996;275:1915-1920)

Author Affiliations
From The Prudential Center for Health Care Research, Atlanta, Ga (Dr Gazmararian); Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, School of Medicine, and Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Dr Lazorick); and Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Ms Spitz), Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Drs Ballard and Saltzman), and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (Dr Marks), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Ga.

Footnotes
Reprints: Julie A. Gazmararian, MPH, PhD, The Prudential Center for Health Care Research, 2859 Paces Ferry Rd, Suite 820, Atlanta, GA 30339.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Pink or Blue ... Black and Blue? Examining Pregnancy as a Predictor of Intimate Partner Violence and Femicide
Taylor and Nabors
Violence Against Women 2009;15:1273-1293.
ABSTRACT  

The hidden figure: sexual intimate partner violence among Pakistani women
Kapadia et al.
Eur J Public Health 2009;0:ckp110v1-ckp110.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Prevalence, Types, and Pattern of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Women in Lima, Peru
Perales et al.
Violence Against Women 2009;15:224-250.
ABSTRACT  

Correlates of In-Law Conflict and Intimate Partner Violence Against Chinese Pregnant Women in Hong Kong
Chan et al.
J Interpers Violence 2009;24:97-110.
ABSTRACT  

Acknowledging a persistent truth: domestic violence in pregnancy
Cook and Bewley
JRSM 2008;101:358-363.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Thai Women
Thananowan and Heidrich
Violence Against Women 2008;14:509-527.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate Partner Violence and Miscarriage: Examination of the Role of Physical and Psychological Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Morland et al.
J Interpers Violence 2008;23:652-669.
ABSTRACT  

Identifying Types of Domestic Violence and Its Associated Risk Factors in a Pregnant Population in Kerman Hospitals, Iran Republic
Salari and Nakhaee
Asia Pac J Public Health 2008;20:49-55.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and PTSD Among Pregnant Latina Women
Rodriguez et al.
Ann Fam Med 2008;6:44-52.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Furor Over Maternal Homicide: Are We Losing Sight of the Primary Issue?
Fontaine and Parmley
Criminal Justice Policy Review 2007;18:153-167.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate Partner Violence and the Childbearing Year: Maternal and Infant Health Consequences
Sharps et al.
Trauma Violence Abuse 2007;8:105-116.
ABSTRACT  

Commentary by Records
Records
West J Nurs Res 2007;29:387-388.
 

Effects of Domestic Violence on Perinatal and Early-Childhood Mortality: Evidence From North India
Ahmed et al.
AJPH 2006;96:1423-1428.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Physical and Sexual Violence During Pregnancy and After Delivery: A Prospective Multistate Study of Women With or at Risk for HIV Infection
Koenig et al.
AJPH 2006;96:1052-1059.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Lowering the threshold for discussions of domestic violence: a randomized controlled trial of computer screening.
Rhodes et al.
Arch Intern Med 2006;166:1107-1114.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

The Association Between Length of Stay in Canada and Intimate Partner Violence Among Immigrant Women
Hyman et al.
AJPH 2006;96:654-659.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Enhancing Participant Recruitment in Studies of Sensitive Topics
Records and Rice
J Am Psychiatr Nurses Assoc 2006;12:28-36.
ABSTRACT  

Cardiac response rate variability in physically abused women of childbearing age.
Rice and Records
Biol Res Nurs 2006;7:204-213.
ABSTRACT  

Male violence, stress, and neuroendocrine parameters in pregnancy: a pilot study.
Talley et al.
Biol Res Nurs 2006;7:222-233.
ABSTRACT  

Abuse Experiences, Perceptions, and Associated Decisions During the Childbearing Cycle
Lutz
West J Nurs Res 2005;27:802-824.
ABSTRACT  

Is Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Unintended Pregnancy? A Review of the Literature
Pallitto et al.
Trauma Violence Abuse 2005;6:217-235.
ABSTRACT  

Homicide: A Leading Cause of Injury Deaths Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States, 1991-1999
Chang et al.
AJPH 2005;95:471-477.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences: Commentary on Plichta
McFarlane
J Interpers Violence 2004;19:1335-1341.
 

Abuse During Pregnancy in Industrialized and Developing Countries
Campbell et al.
Violence Against Women 2004;10:770-789.
ABSTRACT  

Comparison between the abuse assessment screen and the revised conflict tactics scales for measuring physical violence during pregnancy
Reichenheim and Moraes
J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2004;58:523-527.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Homicide Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women Abused by Their Partners: Who Leaves the Perpetrator and Who Stays?
Decker et al.
Violence Against Women 2004;10:498-513.
ABSTRACT  

Pregnancy and Domestic Violence: A Review of the Literature
Jasinski
Trauma Violence Abuse 2004;5:47-64.
ABSTRACT  

Domestic violence in emergency medicine patients
Boyle et al.
Emerg. Med. J. 2004;21:9-13.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Routine Screening for Intimate Partner Violence in an Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic
Scholle et al.
AJPH 2003;93:1070-1072.
FULL TEXT  

Violence Against Women in Mexico: A Study of Abuse Before and During Pregnancy
Castro et al.
AJPH 2003;93:1110-1116.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interventions for Violence Against Women: Scientific Review
Wathen and MacMillan
JAMA 2003;289:589-600.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Interventions for Intimate Partner Violence Against Women: Clinical Applications
Rhodes and Levinson
JAMA 2003;289:601-605.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Protecting the Child and the Family: Integrating Domestic Violence Screening Into a Child Advocacy Center
Pulido and Gupta
Violence Against Women 2002;8:917-933.
ABSTRACT  

Family Violence and Public Health Education: A Call For Action
Alpert et al.
Violence Against Women 2002;8:746-778.
ABSTRACT  

Intimate Partner Violence and Women of Color: A Call for Innovations
Lee et al.
AJPH 2002;92:530-534.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Violence During Pregnancy Among Women With or at Risk for HIV Infection
Koenig et al.
AJPH 2002;92:367-370.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Women's strategic responses to violence in Nicaragua
Ellsberg et al.
J. Epidemiol. Community Health 2001;55:547-555.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Abuse: A risk factor for low birth weight? A systematic review and meta-analysis
Murphy et al.
CMAJ 2001;164:1567-1572.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Abuse during pregnancy: a quintessential threat to maternal and child health -- so when do we start to act?
Campbell
CMAJ 2001;164:1578-1579.
FULL TEXT  

Physical Abuse of Women Before, During, and After Pregnancy
Martin et al.
JAMA 2001;285:1581-1584.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Examining Homicide's Contribution to Pregnancy-Associated Deaths
Frye
JAMA 2001;285:1510-1511.
FULL TEXT  

Perceptions of Health Status and the Relationship With Abuse History and Mental Health in Low-Income Single Mothers
Lutenbacher
Journal of Family Nursing 2000;6:320-340.
ABSTRACT  

Who Gets Screened During Pregnancy for Partner Violence?
Clark et al.
Arch Fam Med 2000;9:1093-1099.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Health Related Surveillance Data on Violence Against Women: State and Local Sources
WALLER et al.
Violence Against Women 2000;6:868-903.
ABSTRACT  

Promise and Perils of Surveillance in Addressing Violence Against Women
CAMPBELL
Violence Against Women 2000;6:705-727.
ABSTRACT  

Role of Victims' Services in Improving Intimate Partner Violence Screening by Trained Maternal and Child Health-Care Providers--Boston, Massachusetts, 1994-1995
JAMA 2000;283:1559-1560.
FULL TEXT  

Domestic Violence: The Role of the Orthopaedic Surgeon in Identification and Treatment
Zillmer
J Am Acad Orthop Surg 2000;8:91-96.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Screening for Domestic Violence in the Community Pediatric Setting
Siegel et al.
Pediatrics 1999;104:874-877.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Domestic Violence
Eisenstat and Bancroft
NEJM 1999;341:886-892.
FULL TEXT  

Screening and Intervention for Intimate Partner Abuse: Practices and Attitudes of Primary Care Physicians
Rodriguez et al.
JAMA 1999;282:468-474.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Utilization of Police by Abused Pregnant Hispanic Women
WIIST and McFARLANE
Violence Against Women 1998;4:677-693.
ABSTRACT  

Risk Factors for Infant Homicide in the United States
Overpeck et al.
NEJM 1998;339:1211-1216.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

High Rates of Violence against Pregnant Women
JWatch Women's Health 1996;1996:3-3.
FULL TEXT