Abuse in pregnancy in China.

Over 12,000 recent mothers from 32 communities in four provinces in China were interviewed to assess the extent of physical and sexual partner abuse 12 months before, during, and up to 11 months after, pregnancy. The overall prevalence of abuse at any time was 11.7%, with a higher overall level of sexual (8.0%) than physical (6.1%) abuse. The incidence of abuse fell during pregnancy for both physical and sexual abuse, but then rose again almost to pre-pregnancy levels. Very few women (0.5%) were abused only during pregnancy. Abuse before pregnancy was a strong risk factor for abuse during pregnancy and after delivery, and most abused women were abused on more than one occasion. Most women did not tell anyone of the abuse, although when it was severe one third talked to family members and one quarter told their friends. (1)

1. Guo SF, Wu JL, Qu CY, et al. Physical and sexual abuse of women, before, during, and after pregnancy. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2004;84:281-86.