Effect of intimate partner violence on antenatal functional health status of childbearing women in Northeastern Thailand
Saito, A.; Creedy, D.; Cooke, M.; Chaboyer, W.
Health Care for Women International 34(9): 757-774
2013
ISSN/ISBN: 0739-9332 PMID: 23790193 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2013.794459Document Number: 578134
We investigated the effects of physical, psychological, and sexual violence on the health status of women attending antenatal clinics at two tertiary hospitals in rural Thailand. We asked 421 pregnant women at 32 weeks gestation or later to complete a survey questionnaire. Participants reported high rates of psychological abuse (53.7%); threats, acts of physical abuse, or both (26.6%); and sexual violence (19.2%). Women abused during pregnancy had poorer health compared with nonabused women, in role emotional functioning, vitality, bodily pain, mental health, and social functioning. Given the high prevalence of violence and poor health status, routine screenings by maternity services is urgently required.