Physical abuse during pregnancy and preterm delivery

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2008

Authors

Rodrigues, T (Author) FMUP; Rocha, L (Author) Other; Barros H (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Vol. 198 No. 3

Pages: 171.e1-171.e6

ISSN: 0002-9378

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 60 Citations

Scopus - 74 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-1KG

DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2007.05.015

Abstract (EN): OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to assess the relationship between physical abuse during pregnancy and preterm delivery. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a hospital-based survey on physical abuse during pregnancy, which included 2660 women with consecutive live births. Women were interviewed and violence was assessed using the Abuse Assessment Screen. Data on sociodemographic, behavioral, and obstetric variables were also obtained. Mothers of preterm (< 37 weeks; n = 217) were contrasted with mothers of term newborn infants (n = 2428). Logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: Twenty-four percent of mothers of preterm newborn infants had experienced physical abuse during pregnancy compared with 8% of mothers of term newborn infants (P < .0001). Violence was associated with preterm birth even after controlling for age, marital status, education, income, parity, planned pregnancy, antenatal care, smoking, alcohol, and illicit drugs use ( odds ratio = 3.14, 95% confidence interval, 2.00-4.93). CONCLUSION: Women who have had physical abuse during pregnancy present a large increase in the risk of preterm delivery, independently from a large set of sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics usually recognized as determinants of preterm birth.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6