PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Link found between intimate partner violence and termination of pregnancy

2014-01-08
(Press-News.org) Contact information: Fiona Godwin
medicinepress@plos.org
Public Library of Science
Link found between intimate partner violence and termination of pregnancy Intimate partner violence in women (sometimes referred to as domestic violence) is linked to termination of pregnancy, according to a study by UK researchers published in this week's PLOS Medicine. The study, led by Susan Bewley from Kings College London, also found that intimate partner violence was linked to a women's partner not knowing about the termination of pregnancy.

The authors reached these conclusions by reviewing 74 published studies that provided information about experiences of intimate partner violence (which could be physical, sexual, or emotional/ psychological) among women who had had a termination. From the information in these studies, the authors found that worldwide, intimate partner violence rates among women undergoing termination of pregnancy ranged from 2.5% to 30% in the preceding year and from 14% to 40% over their lifetime. When combining relevant information from a selection of appropriate studies, the authors found that in women seeking a termination of pregnancy, the lifetime rate of intimate partner violence was 25%. Furthermore, the authors found some evidence that intimate partner violence was associated with single and repeat termination of pregnancy.

The authors also found that women undergoing terminations of pregnancy welcomed the opportunity to disclose their experiences of intimate partner violence and to be offered help, suggesting that termination services may represent an appropriate setting in which to test interventions designed to reduce intimate partner violence.

Among factors that may limit the conclusiveness of these finding are variability among the included studies, the likelihood of under-reporting of both intimate partner violence and termination of pregnancy in the included studies, and the lack of validation of reports of violence through, for example, police reports.

The authors conclude: "Intimate partner violence is associated with pregnancy termination. Novel public health approaches are required to address violence against women and repeat termination. Termination services provide an opportune health-based setting in which to design and test interventions at the individual level."

### Funding: No specific funding was received to write this article.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Citation: Hall M, Chappell LC, Parnell BL, Seed PT, Bewley S (2014) Associations between Intimate Partner Violence and Termination of Pregnancy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS Med 11(1): e1001581. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001581

IN YOUR COVERAGE PLEASE USE THIS URL TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE FREELY AVAILABLE PAPER:

http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.1001581

Contact:

Emma Reynolds
PR Manager (Health) at King's College London
King's College London
0207 848 4334
emma.reynolds@kcl.ac.uk


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

50 years of tobacco control significantly extended lives of 8 million Americans

2014-01-08
50 years of tobacco control significantly extended lives of 8 million Americans Former smoker John Hilburn says a cigarette warning label and costs prompted him to kick the habit 30 years ago WASHINGTON — The Surgeon General's report of 1964 which outlined, for the ...

Despite declines in smoking rates, number of smokers and cigarettes rises

2014-01-08
Despite declines in smoking rates, number of smokers and cigarettes rises Population growth since 1980 drives increases in countries including China and Russia while Canada, Mexico, and the United States see strong declines SEATTLE — Globally, smoking ...

Research shows molecular, protein targeting therapies may be best treatment for certain lung cancer

2014-01-08
Research shows molecular, protein targeting therapies may be best treatment for certain lung cancer CINCINNATI—University of Cincinnati (UC) Cancer Institute researchers have found that using therapies specifically targeting the molecular profile ...

Long-term varenicline treatment supports tobacco abstinence in people with mental illness

2014-01-08
Long-term varenicline treatment supports tobacco abstinence in people with mental illness Extended treatment with the smoking cessation drug varenicline (Chantix) significantly improved the ability of individuals with serious mental illness to maintain ...

BPA increases risk of cancer in human prostate tissue

2014-01-08
BPA increases risk of cancer in human prostate tissue Fetal exposure to a commonly used plasticizer found in products such as water bottles, soup can liners and paper receipts, can increase the risk for prostate cancer later in life, according to a study from ...

Study estimates tobacco control in US has saved 8 million lives in last 50 years

2014-01-08
Study estimates tobacco control in US has saved 8 million lives in last 50 years Researchers estimate that tobacco control in the U.S. since 1964 has been associated with the avoidance of an estimated 8 million premature smoking-attributable deaths, with the ...

Overall prevalence of smoking has decreased globally, although number of smokers has increased

2014-01-08
Overall prevalence of smoking has decreased globally, although number of smokers has increased Since 1980, the global prevalence of daily tobacco smoking has declined by an estimated 25 percent for men and 42 percent for women, although because of population growth, ...

Adults with mental illness have lower rate of decline in smoking

2014-01-08
Adults with mental illness have lower rate of decline in smoking In recent years, the decline in smoking among individuals with mental illness was significantly less than among those without mental illness, although the rates of quitting smoking were greater ...

Combination therapy does not improve ability to quit smoking after 1 year

2014-01-08
Combination therapy does not improve ability to quit smoking after 1 year Among cigarette smokers, the combined use of the smoking cessation medications varenicline and bupropion, compared with varenicline alone, resulted in better rates of smoking abstinence ...

Longer-term use of smoking cessation medication effective among patients with mental illness

2014-01-08
Longer-term use of smoking cessation medication effective among patients with mental illness Among smokers with schizophrenia or bipolar disease who achieved initial smoking abstinence with a standard 12-week course of the smoking cessation drug varenicline, an additional ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

Pink skies

Monkeys are world’s best yodellers - new research

Key differences between visual- and memory-led Alzheimer’s discovered

% weight loss targets in obesity management – is this the wrong objective?

An app can change how you see yourself at work

NYC speed cameras take six months to change driver behavior, effects vary by neighborhood, new study reveals

New research shows that propaganda is on the rise in China

Even the richest Americans face shorter lifespans than their European counterparts, study finds

Novel genes linked to rare childhood diarrhea

New computer model reveals how Bronze Age Scandinavians could have crossed the sea

Novel point-of-care technology delivers accurate HIV results in minutes

Researchers reveal key brain differences to explain why Ritalin helps improve focus in some more than others

Study finds nearly five-fold increase in hospitalizations for common cause of stroke

Study reveals how alcohol abuse damages cognition

Medicinal cannabis is linked to long-term benefits in health-related quality of life

Microplastics detected in cat placentas and fetuses during early pregnancy

Ancient amphibians as big as alligators died in mass mortality event in Triassic Wyoming

Scientists uncover the first clear evidence of air sacs in the fossilized bones of alvarezsaurian dinosaurs: the "hollow bones" which help modern day birds to fly

Alcohol makes male flies sexy

TB patients globally often incur "catastrophic costs" of up to $11,329 USD, despite many countries offering free treatment, with predominant drivers of cost being hospitalization and loss of income

Study links teen girls’ screen time to sleep disruptions and depression

Scientists unveil starfish-inspired wearable tech for heart monitoring

Footprints reveal prehistoric Scottish lagoons were stomping grounds for giant Jurassic dinosaurs

AI effectively predicts dementia risk in American Indian/Alaska Native elders

First guideline on newborn screening for cystic fibrosis calls for changes in practice to improve outcomes

Existing international law can help secure peace and security in outer space, study shows

Pinning down the process of West Nile virus transmission

UTA-backed research tackles health challenges across ages

In pancreatic cancer, a race against time

Targeting FGFR2 may prevent or delay some KRAS-mutated pancreatic cancers

[Press-News.org] Link found between intimate partner violence and termination of pregnancy