Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: Women's narratives about their mothering experiences

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue and the most common form of violence against women worldwide. Pregnancy does not protect against this phenomenon, which may cause adverse health outcomes for both the mother and the newborn. The main aim of this study was to assess the impact of IPV on women's pregnancies. Thirty-five Spanish women (mean age = 44.23 years, SD = 10.30) who had suffered IPV were interviewed and asked to explain the violent incidents that they experienced, the mothering skills that they developed toward their children, and the difficulties that they experienced at delivery. The results showed that most of the participants continued to experience psychological and physical abuse during their pregnancy, whereas a few of the participants began to experience sexual abuse. As a consequence of IPV, some mothers suffered negative obstetrical outcomes at delivery. The negative effects of IPV on the women's mothering skills were especially remarkable.