Paper
Sunday, November 4, 2007
336
Violence and Pregnancy in Mexico
Ana Quelopana, PhD, RMW, Health Department, Universidad de Tarapaca, Arica, Chile, Jane Dimmitt Champion, PhD, FNP, CS, FAAN, Department of Family Nursing Care, The Univ of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA, and Bertha Cecilia Salazar, PhD, Secretaria de Investigacion, Nursing College, Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Monterrey, N.L, Mexico.
| Learning Objective #1: describe the association between interpersonal violence and prenatal care among Mexican women. |
| Learning Objective #2: describe the association between interpersonal violence and attitudes toward pregnancy among Mexican women. |
Aim: This study examined the association between a history of interpersonal violence (IPV) attitudes toward pregnancy and initiation of prenatal care (PNC).
Methods: Pregnant women (n=253) aged 13 to 46 years receiving their first prenatal care visit at a public prenatal clinic in Monterrey, Mexico were enrolled in the study. Structured interviews were conducted to obtain information concerning demographics, reproductive history, current pregnancy, attitudes toward pregnancy, IPV history and perceived barriers and benefits of PNC.
Findings: Thirty-five percent of participants reported IPV. A current or previous husband or partner was the most common perpetrator of violence (64%). Of women experiencing abuse, 47% reported abuse was ongoing during the current pregnancy. More women reporting IPV were unmarried, did not live with a partner and reported a lower monthly income. Women with IPV initiated PNC later and reported more problems with previous pregnancies than those without IPV history. An experience of IPV was associated with initiation of PNC, number of pregnancies, perception of barriers, and negative attitudes toward pregnancy.
Conclusions: Many women in this study reported a previously unreported experience of IPV or were currently in an IPV relationship. These women perceived more barriers and initiated prenatal care later than women without IPV. They also had more negative attitudes toward the pregnancy. These factors potentially cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. The prenatal clinical setting utilized in this study could be easily adapted for practice settings in Mexico leading to increased screening of pregnant women for IVP for prevention of adverse pregnancy outcomes. .