Factors and Psychosocial Profiles of Intimate Partner Violence among Pregnant Women

Main Article Content

Nanthana Thananowan
Sirirat Leelacharas

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate factors and psychosocial profiles (e.g., stress,social support, and self esteem) of intimate partner violence (IPV)among pregnant women.

Design: Descriptive comparative design

Methods: The sample was comprised of 420 pregnant women whoreceived their antenatal care visits at a university hospital in Bangkok.Data was collected through a set of structured questionnaires whichwere then analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, andindependent t-test.

Main Findings: Compared to non-abused pregnant women, abusedpregnant women rated significantly higher in areas of divorce,separation and remarriage, alcohol abuse, smoking, unplanned andunwanted pregnancy (p < .05). They also had significantly shorter lengthof marriage, lower levels of education, and the greater number ofgravidarum and abortion (p < .05). Moreover, abused pregnant womenhad significantly higher stress, but lower social support and self-esteemthan non-abused pregnant women (p < .05).

Conclusion and recommendations: Based on these findings, nursesshould pay attention and increase awareness of IPV among pregnantwomen as well as perform universal screening of IPV aimed at reducingsuch violence experienced and negative health outcomes duringpregnancy.

Article Details

How to Cite
Thananowan, N., & Leelacharas, S. (2011). Factors and Psychosocial Profiles of Intimate Partner Violence among Pregnant Women. Nursing Science Journal of Thailand, 29(1), 37–44. Retrieved from https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/ns/article/view/2797
Section
Research Papers

References

Thananowan N, Heidrich SM. Intimate partner violence among pregnant Thai women. Violence Against Women 2008; 14(5): 509-27.

Burch RL, Gallup Jr. GG. Pregnancy as a stimulus for domestic violence. J Fam Violence 2004; 19(4): 243-7.

Martin SL, Harris-Britt A, Li Y, Moracco KE, Kupper LL, Campbell JC. Changes in intimate partner violence during pregnancy. J Fam Violence 2004; 19(4): 201-10.

Jasinski JL. Pregnancy and domestic violence: A review of the literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse 2004; 5(1): 47-64.

Wiemann CM, Agurcia CA, Berenson AB, Volk RJ, Rickert VI. Pregnant adolescents: Experiences and behaviors associated with physical assault by an intimate partner. Matern Child Health J 2000; 4(2): 93-101.

Thanaudom D. The severity in family violence: A study in pregnancy [master thesis]. Mahidol University, Thailand; 1996.

Thananowan N. Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Thai pregnant women: The correlation of violence with maternal characteristics, health care practice during pregnancy, and maternal health [dissertation]. University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA; 2004.

World Health Organization. Putting women’s safety first: Ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women. Geneva: WHO; 1999.

McFarlane J, Parker BP, Soeken K, Bullock L. Assessing for abuse during pregnancy: Severity and frequency of injuries and associated entry into prenatal care. JAMA 1992; 267(23): 3176-8.

Hudson WW, McIntosh SR. The assessment of spouse abuse: Two quantifiable dimensions. J Marriage Fam 1981; 43: 873-88.

Curry MA, Burton D, Fields J. The Prenatal Psychosocial Profile: A research and clinical tool. Res Nur Health 1998; 21(2): 211-9.

Brislin RW. Back-translation for cross-cultural research. J Cross Cult Psychol 1970; 1(3): 186-216.

Feldhaus KM, Koziol-McLain J, Amsbury HL, Norton IM, Lowenstein SR, Abbott JT. Accuracy of 3 brief screening questions for detecting partner violence in the emergency department. JAMA 1997; 277(17): 1357-61.

SPSS Base 11.0 user’s guide. Chicago, IL: SPSS Inc; 2001.

Hedin LW, Janson PO. Domestic violence during pregnancy: The prevalence of physical injuries, substance use, abortions and miscarriages. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2000; 79(8): 625-30. 16. Goodwin M, Gazmararian JA, Johnson CH, Gilbert BC, Saltzman LE, Group PW. Pregnancy

intendedness and physical abuse around the time of pregnancy: Findings from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, 1996-1997. Matern Child Health J 2000; 4(2): 85-92.

Seng JS. A conceptual framework for research on lifetime violence posttraumatic stress, and childbearing. J Midwifery Womens Health 2002; 47(5): 337-46.

Bacchus L, Mezey G, Bewley S. Domestic violence: Prevalence in pregnant women and associations with physical and psychological health. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2004; 113: 6-11.

Cann K, Withnell S, Shakespeare J, Doll H, Thomas J. Domestic violence: A comparative survey of level of detection, knowledge, and attitudes in healthcare workers. Pub Health 2001; 115(2): 89-95.

Thananowan N, Kaesornsamut P. The association between physical, emotional, and sexual violence and pregnant women’s psychosocial health. J Nurs Science 2010; 28(1): 28-37.