Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106693

John Moraros, MD, MPH, Larry K. Olsen, Dr PH, CHES, and Yelena Bird, MD, MPH. College of Health and Social Services, New Mexico State University, 1335 International Mall, PO Box 30001, Office of the Dean, MSC 3446, Las Cruces, NM 88003-8001, 505 646 6058, johnmoraros@yahoo.com

BACKGROUND: Intimate partner violence represents a significant, global public health problem that warrants attention from diverse disciplines. Pregnant women represent a vulnerable population, particularly when their intimate partner is a substance abusing individual. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify the nature and extent of interpersonal violence against pregnant women whose intimate partner is a substance abuser. METHODS: An existing Spanish language instrument used to assess IPV in Puerto Rico was adapted for use in the present study. Face validity of the instrument was established and a pilot study showed the instrument to have a Cronbach's alpha level of .88. Personnel in a selected women's hospital in Juarez were trained to assist in the data collection process. Data were collected over a 2 month period of time from all women who presented for prenatal care at the hospital. RESULTS: Of 215 women who completed the survey, 52 self-reported being the victim of physical, sexual, or emotional abuse and 32 specified that their intimate partner was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs at the time of the abuse. Significant relationships were found between physical abuse (e.g., punching, suffering fractures or an abortion); sexual abuse (e.g., being forced to have sex), and emotional abuse (e.g., being made to feel guilty, ashamed, attacking the individual's self esteem). CONCLUSIONS: Health care providers must be made aware of the effect of substance abuse as an antecedent of IPV and understand where to refer women who have suffered such abuse.

Learning Objectives:

• Explain the problem of substance abuse as an antecedent to intimate partner violence in Juarez, Mexico.
• Describe the type of violence pregnant women in Juarez experience by their substance abusing intimate partners.
• Describe the role of medical care providers in referring pregnant women who have experienced IPV from their substance abusing partners, to adequate treatment services.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.