Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy: A Pilot Intervention Program in Lima, Peru

• NCJ Number: 235069
• Journal: Journal of Interpersonal Violence Volume: 25 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2010 Pages: 2054-2076
• Author(s): Swee May Cripe; Sixto E. Sanchez; Elena Sanchez; Beatriz Ayala Quintanilla; Christian Hernandez Alarcon; Bizu Gelaye; Michelle A. Williams
• Date Published: November 2010
• Length: 23 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This pilot study examined the effectiveness of standard care and an empowerment intervention for abused pregnant women.

Abstract

Severe psychological abuse was most prevalent (42.2 percent) among this sample of women. Compared with women in the standard care group at the postintervention survey, women in the empowerment group were more likely to hide money (44.6 percent vs. 34.3 percent), establish a code with family or friends (19.6 percent vs. 16.2 percent), ask neighbors to call police if violence began (6.9 percent vs. 1.0 percent), had available bank account numbers (17.1 percent vs. 3.1 percent), had valuable jewelry (8.4 percent vs. 3.8 percent), and had available a hidden bag with extra clothing (9.0 percent vs. 3.1 percent). 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. (Published Abstract)