This pilot study examined the effectiveness of standard care and an empowerment intervention for abused pregnant women. Severe psychological abuse was most prevalent (42.2%) among this sample of women. Compared with women in the standard care group at the post-intervention survey, women in the empowerment group were more likely to hide money (44.6% vs. 34.3%), establish a code with family or friends (19.6% vs. 16.2%), ask neighbors to call police if violence began (6.9% vs. 1.0%), had available bank account numbers (17.1% vs. 3.1%), had valuable jewelry (8.4% vs. 3.8%), and had available a hidden bag with extra clothing (9.0% vs. 3.1%). However, there was no statistically significant difference in health-related quality of life, adoption of safety behaviors, and use of community resources between women in the two groups. Simply asking pregnant women about abuse and offering referral could potentially interrupt and prevent further abuse.

Our findings are consistent with a larger literature that documents elevated blood pressure and increased risks of hypertension with short and long sleep duration.

The findings indicate the need to include IPV screening and treatment in prenatal care and reproductive health settings.

Maternal mood and anxiety disorders are associated with increased preeclampsia risk. These observations must be explored in larger pharmacoepidemiological studies that allow precise evaluations of independent and joint effects of maternal psychopathologies and the use of psychotropic medications on preeclampsia risk.

This study assesses the prevalence, types, and pattern of intimate partner violence (IPV) during lifetime and current pregnancy for 2,392 women in Lima, Peru. The reported lifetime prevalence of any IPV (physical, sexual, or emotional) is 45.1%. For women who experienced abuse, the prevalence of lifetime physical, emotional, and sexual IPV is 34.2%, 28.4%, and 8.7%, respectively. Older (>/= 30 years), unmarried, employed, and economically disadvantaged women and those with little education are more likely to experience lifetime and pregnancy IPV. Efforts at universal antepartum IPV screening and appropriate interventions are needed to reduce the burden of violence experienced by pregnant women.