Partner violence during pregnancy and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes

TLDR

The study examined whether partner physical or emotional abuse during pregnancy is linked to perinatal death, low birthweight, and preterm delivery. Researchers recruited 18‑65‑year‑old women from two primary care practices in 1997‑98, collected self‑reported abuse frequency for each pregnancy, and recorded pregnancy outcomes. Among 755 women, 14.7% experienced partner abuse, which was associated with a doubled risk of perinatal death (aRR = 2.1) and higher odds of preterm (aRR = 2.4) and term low birthweight (aRR = 1.9), with risk increasing with abuse frequency.

Abstract

The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the association between partner physical or emotional abuse during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes including perinatal death, low birthweight and preterm delivery. Women, aged 18-65, who attended one of two large primary care practices from 1997-98 were recruited for this study. Ever pregnant women were asked the frequency of abuse during each pregnancy and details of the pregnancy outcomes. Information regarding abuse during pregnancy and pregnancy outcomes was available for 755 women surveyed who reported a live birth or late fetal death, 14.7% indicated that an intimate partner was violent or abusive toward them during a pregnancy (274 of 1862 pregnancies). Abuse during pregnancy was significantly associated with an increased risk of perinatal death (adjusted relative risk [aRR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3, 3.4) and, among live births, with preterm low birthweight (aRR = 2.4; 95% CI 1.5, 4.0) and term low birthweight (aRR = 1.9; 95% CI 1.0, 3.4). Greater abuse frequency was associated with increased risk. Abuse during pregnancy was associated with perinatal deaths and preterm low birthweight deliveries.