Domestic violence can lead to foetal loss

Domestic violence can lead to foetal loss
Friday, 23 Jan 2009 07:56

A new study has found women who experience domestic violence are 50 per cent more likely to lose their baby in at least one pregnancy.

Researchers looked at more than 2,500 pregnant women in Africa and found repeated foetal loss was also associated with all forms of spousal violence, with emotional violence the most commonly linked.

The authors claim their findings support the idea of prenatal screening for spousal violence in Africa, the region with the highest levels of foetal loss in the world.

They add that because a large proportion of risk for recurrent foetal mortality is attributable to spousal violence, and therefore, is potentially preventable.

"Our findings support the idea of routine prenatal screening for spousal violence in the African setting, a region with the highest rate of foetal death in the world."

They add if the prevalence of spousal abuse could be reduced to 50 per cent, 25 per cent, or eliminated completely, preventable excess recurrent foetal loss would be 17 per cent, 25 per cent, and 33 per cent respectively.

In an accompanying comment, Dr Claudia Garcia-Moreno, from the World Health Organisation, said: "More support is needed for education and information for health-care providers and the integration of intimate-partner violence and sexual violence into existing initiatives for maternal, infant, and child health.

"There is also a major need for more research on primary prevention interventions. The focus on foetal outcomes should not detract from the impact of violence on women's health and lives. Violence against women is a violation of their human rights."