Domestic Violence Prior to and During Pregnancy within a Selected MilitaryPopulation and its Relationship to Depressive Symptomatology

摘要

Domestic violence is a social problem of epidemic proportions which adverselyeffects the health of millions of women each year. Abuse does not cease when a woman becomes pregnant. In fact, violence may begin or escalate during the prenatal period. An extensive review of the literature reveals that the prevalence of abuse during pregnancy ranges from 1.5% to 23%. Despite documentation of the prevalence of abuse during pregnancy in the civilian population, a prevalence study has not been conducted in the military community. A preliminary descriptive study was performed at two military hospital clinics, in order to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence prior to (within the last year) and during pregnancy and its relationship to depressive symptomatology. Research on domestic violence discloses that it is a problem that permeates all ethnic, racial, and religious groups, all socioeconomic and educational levels, and all trades and professions. It is assumed that the military is not immune from domestic violence and that its prevalence is comparable to that in the civilian community. A Women's Pregnancy Well-Being Assessment Survey was distributed to 317 prenatal patients at these facilities between 20 November 1995 and 5 January 1996, until a sample size of 298 participants was obtained. The participants revealed that 3.4% had been abused during the current pregnancy, and that 9.4% had been abused prior to (within the last year) or during the current pregnancy. A significant difference was found between abused and nonabused participants and total scores on the Beck Depression Inventory (t = -5.23, p = .000). Abuse was significantly correlated with depressive symptomatology (r .2931, p = .000).