A study suggested that pregnant women who suffered from domestic violence are at risk of developing postnatal depression.
In a recent study from U.K., led by Louise Howard from King's College London, it was discovered that high levels of symptoms of mental health disorders in women were significantly linked to them having suffered from domestic violence before, during, or after pregnancy.
After reviewing a total of 67 relevant studies, the researchers found out that approximately 12 to 13 percent of postnatal depression is associated with experiences of domestic violence during pregnancy. In addition, the researchers discovered that women with antenatal and postnatal depression were three times more likely to have suffered from domestic violence the previous year ; five times more likely to have experienced domestic violence during pregnancy; and three times more likely to have experienced domestic violence during their lifetime.
The researchers, however, noted that their findings were not sufficient to prove that domestic violence can cause perinatal depression, anxiety, or trauma, or provide evidence that perinatal mental health disorders can lead to subsequent domestic violence. In addition, they also noted that there was no information about other perinatal mental disorders, such as eating disorders and puerperal psychosis.
The authors of the study also pointed out that their finding that women suffering from perinatal mental disorders had high prevalence and increased odds of having experienced domestic violence during pregnancy, the past year, or over their lifetime emphasized the importance of health professionals standing up and taking action against domestic violence among women attending antenatal and mental health services. Furthermore, they mentioned that additional data are needed concerning how maternity and mental health services should best identify women having a previous or current experience of domestic violence and respond appropriately and safely, thus improving health outcomes for women and their infants in the perinatal period.
This study was published in this week's issue of PLOS Medicine.
