Forty per cent of women who report depressive symptoms following birth also reported intimate partner violence finds a new study.
The study also found that most of the women reporting postnatal depressive symptoms first reported this at six months after birth or later.
Intimate partner violence (both physical and emotional abuse) in the perinatal period is associated with a range of physical and psychological health problems including adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, postnatal depression, and future behavioural problems for children.
The study looked at 1305 nulliparous women. They were recruited from six public hospitals between 6 and 24 weeks of gestation. Written questionnaires were completed at recruitment and at 3, 6 and 12 months postpartum.
The study found that one in six women reported intimate partner violence in the year after having their first baby. Emotional violence was more common than physical violence (14% versus 8%).
Read more in the BJOG: International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Tags: Women's health
