Definition

The percentage of women who reported partner associated physical abuse during the 12 months before pregnancy, or during pregnancy, divided by the number of women who delivered a live birth.

Numerator

The number of women who reported physical abuse by their husband/partner during the 12 months before pregnancy, or during pregnancy.

Denominator

The number of women who delivered a live birth.

Data Interpretation Issues

This data only includes women who reported physical abuse during the perinatal time period. It does not include other forms of abuse.

Why Is This Important?

Many researchers have found that women in their childbearing years are at the greatest risk of domestic violence. Domestic violence during the perinatal time period is of particular concern because research indicates that women who are abused are more likely to have poorer birth outcomes including low birth weight infants, preterm labor, and fetal death. They are also more likely to be involved with high risk behavior such as smoking, drinking, and delaying prenatal care. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends screening all patients for domestic violence, and for women who are pregnant, screening should take place multiple times throughout the pregnancy as well as at the postpartum checkup.

Other Objectives

There is not a Healthy People 2020 objective specifically targeting domestic violence during the perinatal time period; however, proposed objective IPV-39 focuses on reducing violence by current or former intimate partners.

How Are We Doing?

Utah's overall rate of physical abuse in the year before pregnancy or during pregnancy was 2.8% from 2009-2011.

How Do We Compare With the U.S.?

There are no national data assessing the prevalence of domestic violence among childbearing women.

What Is Being Done?

The Maternal and Infant Health Program (MIHP) aims to educate healthcare providers and women of reproductive age about domestic violence by providing information and links to helpful resources.

Available Services

The Domestic Violence LINK Line provides referrals for shelters, counseling etc. 1-800-897-5465

Data Notes

Women were asked the following two questions: [[br]] 1) During the 12 months before you got pregnant with your new baby, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way? [[br]] 2) During your most recent pregnancy, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way?.   [[br]] [[br]] * Use caution when interpreting the estimate for the 35-39 age category. The estimate has a relative standard error greater than 30% and does not meet UDOH standards for reliability. [[br]] [[br]] ^The estimate for the 40+ age category has been suppressed because the relative standard error is greater than 50% or the observed number of events is very small and not appropriate for publication.

Data Source

Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health

Data Notes

Women were asked the following two questions: [[br]] 1) During the 12 months before you got pregnant with your new baby, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way? [[br]] 2) During your most recent pregnancy, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way?

Data Source

Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health

Data Notes

Women were asked the following two questions: [[br]] 1) During the 12 months before you got pregnant with your new baby, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way? [[br]] 2) During your most recent pregnancy, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way?

Data Source

Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health

Data Notes

Women were asked the following two questions: [[br]] 1) During the 12 months before you got pregnant with your new baby, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way? [[br]] 2) During your most recent pregnancy, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way?

Data Source

Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health

Data Notes

Women were asked the following two questions: [[br]] 1) During the 12 months before you got pregnant with your new baby, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way? [[br]] 2) During your most recent pregnancy, did your husband or partner push, hit, slap,kick, choke, or physically hurt you in any other way?.   [[br]] [[br]] * Use caution when interpreting the estimates for the $35,000-$49,999 category. The estimates have a relative standard error greater than 30% and do not meet UDOH standards for reliability.

Data Source

Utah Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Utah Department of Health

References and Community Resources

1. Saltzman L., Johnson C., Gilbert B., Goodwin M. Physical Abuse Around the Time of Pregnancy: an examination of prevalence and risk factors in 16 states. Matern Child Health J. 2003 Mar;7(1):31-43. 2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preconception and Interconception Health Status of Women Who Recently Gave Birth to a Live-Born Infant-- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 26 Reporting Areas, 2004. MMWR Surveillance Summ, 2007 Dec 14; 56(ss10):1-35