Discussions About Intimate Partner Violence During Prenatal Care in the United States: The Role of Race/Ethnicity and Insurance Status

Over 1.5 million women are physically, sexually, and emotionally abused by intimate partners in the U.S. each year. Despite the severe health consequences and costs associated with intimate partner violence (IPV), most health providers fail to assess patients for abuse. It was of interest to examine the occurrence of IPV discussions during prenatal care (PNC) visits among women who experienced IPV. This study analyzed data from the 2004–2008 National Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System which included 195,687 women who delivered a live birth in the U.S. IPV victimization was measured using four items that addressed physical abuse by a current or former husband/partner in the 12 months before or during pregnancy. Responses were categorized as preconception, prenatal, preconception and prenatal, and preconception and/or prenatal IPV. The outcome was IPV discussions by health providers during PNC. Separate logistic regression models provided odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals. Women who reported prenatal IPV were less likely to have IPV discussions during PNC (OR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.70–0.94). Results were similar for women experiencing IPV during the prenatal and preconception periods. Among racial/ethnic minorities, women who experienced preconception IPV were less likely to have discussions about IPV during PNC. Further, Medicaid recipients who reported preconception and/or prenatal IPV were less likely to report IPV discussions (OR = 0.75, 95 % CI = 0.69–0.82). This study underscores a public health problem and missed opportunity to connect battered victims to necessary services and care. It elucidates the state of current clinical practice and better informs policies on incorporating universal IPV screening.