Abuse during pregnancy: frequency, severity, perpetrator, and risk factors of homicide.

To determine the frequency, severity, and perpetrator of abuse during pregnancy as well as the occurrence of risk factors of homicide, a stratified, prospective cohort analysis was completed on 1,203 African-American, Hispanic, and Anglo women in urban public health prenatal clinics. All women were assessed for abuse at the first prenatal visit and twice again during the pregnancy. All women were administered the Conflicts Tactics Scale, the Index of Spouse Abuse and the Danger Assessment Scale. Prevalence of physical abuse during pregnancy was 16%, one in every six women. Women abused during pregnancy had significantly higher scores on all instruments and more risk factors of homicide when compared with women abused prior to but not during pregnancy. To protect women's safety, a protocol of assessment and intervention for abuse must be standard care for all pregnant women.