RCOG release: Raising awareness on the effects of domestic violence in pregnancy

A doctor presenting a paper at the 8th RCOG International Scientific Meeting will call for better services to support victims of domestic violence.
 
The last CEMACH report Saving Mothers Lives revealed that out of 295 maternal deaths over the period 2003 – 2005, 19 direct causes of maternal death arose in women who were murdered by their partners. In this group, 14% of the women had informed their healthcare professionals they were in an abusive relationship. This makes the incidence of death from domestic violence among pregnant women higher than death from common medical conditions such as postpartum haemorrhage and pre-eclampsia. 

An analysis of police statistics in Northern Ireland and the number of phone calls received by a regional domestic violence charity in Northern Ireland showed that domestic violence during pregnancy is increasing.  30% of domestic violence begins or escalates during pregnancy and the violence usually continues after childbirth and in some cases, gets worse.

Domestic violence has implications on the health and judicial system; however, the most important long-lasting effect is on women and their children. The pregnancy may be complicated with miscarriage, placental abruption, preterm labour, intrauterine growth restriction and intrauterine fetal death.

Dr Abdelrahman Mageed, a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at Erne Hospital in Northern Ireland said, “Domestic violence often remains behind closed doors and agencies don’t want to be seen to interfere in a ‘domestic’. 

“When domestic violence is suspected, it is our duty as doctors to be involved and to protect the mother. When violence is disclosed during the consultation, a sympathetic hearing and safety assessment are important.  Healthcare professionals, who are often the pregnant woman’s first-point-of-contact, need to be trained to manage this process and to detect vulnerable women.

“We should offer to inform the police or recommend hospital admission.  An inter-agency approach is needed to develop an exit strategy so that these women can be cared for in a safe environment.  The health system needs to work closely with women’s support groups, so that comprehensive care packages are made available.”

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Notes

For more information and to speak to Dr Abdelmageed, please contact Gerald Chan at the RCOG press office on 020 7772 4664 or email gchan@rcog.org.uk.

A copy of Saving Mothers Lives is available via the link here.  See chapter 13: ‘Domestic abuse’ on pp. 173 – 179 and chapter 16: ‘Issues for midwives’ on page 207. 

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 8th International Scientific Meeting is taking place in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, from Monday 7 to Wednesday 9 December 2009. The meeting is held in collaboration with the Abu Dhabi Health Services Co. (SEHA) and sponsored by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.  For more information about the meeting, please click here.