Physical abuse around the time of pregnancy among women with disabilities.

Mitra M; Manning SE; Lu E

Author Address:

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Shrewsbury, MA 01545, USA. monika.mitra@umassmed.edu

Source:

Maternal And Child Health Journal [Matern Child Health J] 2012 May; Vol. 16 (4), pp. 802-6.

Publication Type:

Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Language:

English

Journal Information:

Publisher: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers : New York, NY Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9715672 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1573-6628 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10927875 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Matern Child Health J Subsets: MEDLINE

MeSH Terms:

Disabled Persons/*statistics & numerical data
Spouse Abuse/*statistics & numerical data
Adolescent ; Adult ; Counseling ; Female ; Humans ; Massachusetts/epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Population Surveillance ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Prenatal Care ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Assessment ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Young Adult

Abstract:

Women with disabilities are at greater risk for physical abuse than women without disabilities. However, no previous population-based studies have examined physical abuse against women with disabilities around the time of pregnancy, a critical period for mother and child. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of physical abuse before and during pregnancy among a representative sample of Massachusetts women with and without disabilities. Data from the 2007-2008 Massachusetts Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) were analyzed in 2010. Disability prevalence was 4.9% (95% CI = 3.9-6.2) among Massachusetts women giving birth during 2007-2008. The prevalence of physical abuse during the 12-months before pregnancy among women with disabilities was 13.6% (95% CI = 7.2-24.0) compared to 2.8% for women without disabilities (95% CI = 2.1-3.7). Similarly, 8.1% (95% CI = 4.0-15.7) of women with disabilities compared to 2.3% (95% CI = 1.7-3.1) of women without disabilities experienced physical abuse during pregnancy. Multivariate analyses indicated that women with disabilities were more likely to report physical abuse before pregnancy (OR = 4.3, 95% CI = 1.9-9.7), during pregnancy (OR = 2.8, 95% CI = 1.1-7.1), or during either time period (OR = 3.2, 95% CI = 1.4-7.1) than women without disabilities while controlling for maternal age, education, race/Hispanic ethnicity, marital status and household poverty status. No difference was observed by disability status in the likelihood of prenatal-care providers talking to women about physical abuse. These analyses reveal disproportionate prevalence of physical abuse before and during pregnancy among women with disabilities. Screening for physical abuse and timely referral of women in need of assistance are critical to optimize health outcomes for both mother and child.

Grant Information:

1 UR6 DP000513-01 United States DP NCCDPHP CDC HHS

Entry Dates:

Date Created: 20120425 Date Completed: 20120914

Update Code:

20120914

PMID:

21556697

Database:

MEDLINE with Full Text