Abstract
This study describes the prevalence of violence during pregnancy and examines the association between the experience of violence
since the beginning of pregnancy and the prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms while taking into account immigrant status.
Cross-sectional study including 5,162 pregnant women attending Montreal hospitals for antenatal care was conducted, with 1,400
being born outside of Canada. CES-D scale was used to evaluate depression at 24–26 weeks of pregnancy. The Abuse Assessment
Screen scale was used to determine the frequency and severity of violence since the beginning of pregnancy. Relationship with
abuser was also considered. All modeling was done using logistic regressions. Threats were the most frequent type of violence,
with 63 % happening more than once. Long-term immigrant women reported the highest prevalence of all types of violence (7.7 %).
Intimate partner violence (IPV) (15 %) was most frequently reported among the poorest pregnant women. Strong associations
exist between more than one episode of abuse and depression (POR = 5.21 [3.73; 7.23], and IPV and depression [POR = 5.81 [4.19;
8.08]. Immigrant status did not change the associations between violence and depression. Violence against pregnant women is
not rare in Canada, and it is associated with antenatal depressive symptoms. These findings support future development of
perinatal screening for violence, follow-up, and a culturally sensitive referral system.
since the beginning of pregnancy and the prevalence of antenatal depressive symptoms while taking into account immigrant status.
Cross-sectional study including 5,162 pregnant women attending Montreal hospitals for antenatal care was conducted, with 1,400
being born outside of Canada. CES-D scale was used to evaluate depression at 24–26 weeks of pregnancy. The Abuse Assessment
Screen scale was used to determine the frequency and severity of violence since the beginning of pregnancy. Relationship with
abuser was also considered. All modeling was done using logistic regressions. Threats were the most frequent type of violence,
with 63 % happening more than once. Long-term immigrant women reported the highest prevalence of all types of violence (7.7 %).
Intimate partner violence (IPV) (15 %) was most frequently reported among the poorest pregnant women. Strong associations
exist between more than one episode of abuse and depression (POR = 5.21 [3.73; 7.23], and IPV and depression [POR = 5.81 [4.19;
8.08]. Immigrant status did not change the associations between violence and depression. Violence against pregnant women is
not rare in Canada, and it is associated with antenatal depressive symptoms. These findings support future development of
perinatal screening for violence, follow-up, and a culturally sensitive referral system.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Article
- Pages 1-10
- DOI 10.1007/s00737-012-0298-7
- Authors
- Malgorzata Miszkurka, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, 1430 boul. du Mont-Royal, Outremont, Montreal, QC, Canada H2V 4P3
- Maria Victoria Zunzunegui, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, 1430 boul. du Mont-Royal, Outremont, Montreal, QC, Canada H2V 4P3
- Lise Goulet, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, 1430 boul. du Mont-Royal, Outremont, Montreal, QC, Canada H2V 4P3
- Journal Archives of Women’s Mental Health
- Online ISSN 1435-1102
- Print ISSN 1434-1816