Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the first year postpartum in an Australian pregnancy cohort study

Abstract

To assess intimate partner violence (IPV) in a longitudinal cohort study during and after pregnancy, and examine social and economic factors encouraging or inhibiting violence. Nulliparous women were recruited from 6 public hospitals in Melbourne, Australia. Selfadministered questionnaires included standardised measures assessing fear of an intimate partner at enrolment, 6 and 12 months postpartum; and period prevalence of physical and emotional abuse in the first 12 months postpartum. 1,507 women completed baseline data (mean gestation 15 weeks). Response fractions at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum were 95, 93 and 90%, respectively. 5.1 and 5.4% of women reported fear in pregnancy and the fi..