Kristina Stenson

The prevalence of violence investigated in a pregnant population in Sweden

All women registered for antenatal care within a Swedish municipality during a 6-month period were assessed regarding acts of violence. The Abuse Assessment Screen was used on two occasions during pregnancy, and once between 4 and 20 weeks after delivery. The efficacy of repeated interviews was investigated, and characteristics of abused and non-abused women were compared. The participation rate was 93% (1038 women). Physical abuse by a close acquaintance or relative during or shortly after pregnancy was reported by 1.3%, and by 2.8% when the year preceding pregnancy was included. The lifetime prevalence of emotional, physical or sexual abuse was 19.4%. Repeated questioning increased the detection of abuse. Women abused during pregnancy reported more preceding ill-health and more elective abortions than non-abused women. Intervention against sexual violence has been on the political agenda in Sweden for several decades. Even so, physical abuse is a risk factor comparable in frequency to obstetric complications such as gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia. Routines need to be established to make questioning about violence an integral part of the standardized screening for risk factors during pregnancy.

Lifetime prevalence of sexual abuse in a Swedish pregnant population

Background.  Our primary purpose was to determine the prevalence of sexual abuse in a non‐selected pregnant population. We also endeavored to establish the age at which the abuse had occurred and the identity of the perpetrator and to analyze in sexually abused vis‐à‐vis non‐abused women, various socio‐economic and clinical variables.

Exposure to domestic violence -- Women's opinion about being asked

Objective: The aim of the study was to examine women’s opinions about being asked during and after pregnancy, by their midwife about exposure to violence. Study Methods: All women registered at the antenatal clinics of Uppsala, Sweden during a period of six months were assessed for abuse using the Abuse Assessment Screen twice during pregnancy and once within 20 weeks after the delivery. On the last occasion the women were asked to answer an open-ended, written question worded: “Please write down how you felt about being asked about violence by your midwife at the antenatal clinic”. Those who disclosed violence and those who did not were compared regarding opinion of being asked about violence using confidence intervals for differences. Results: The question was answered by 879 women. 80% of those asked, found the questioning positive, 12% neither positive or negative /uncomfortable, 5% found it both positive and negative / uncomfortable and only 3% negative / uncomfortable. There was no significant difference regarding negative opinion about being asked about exposure to violence between those who disclosed abuse and those who did not. Conclusions: The results indicated that most pregnant women were not negative to being asked by their midwife about exposure to violence. As part of the identification of risk factors that is carried out for each pregnant woman, the midwife at the antenatal care clinic should ask about exposure to violence. That would offer women help to change their situation and to deal with the consequences of abuse.