Correlates of in-law conflict and intimate partner violence against Chinese pregnant women in Hong Kong

J Interpers Violence. 2009 Jan;24(1):97-110. doi: 10.1177/0886260508315780. Epub 2008 Mar 31.

Abstract

This study examines correlates of in-law conflict with intimate partner violence (IPV) against pregnant women in a cohort of Chinese pregnant women who visited antenatal clinics in Hong Kong. This was a territory-wide, cross-sectional study of 3,245 pregnant women recruited from seven hospitals in Hong Kong. Participants were invited to complete the Chinese Abuse Assessment Screen and a demographic questionnaire. About 9% of the pregnant women reported having been abused by their partners in the preceding year. In-law conflict was the characteristic most significantly associated with preceding-year abuse against pregnant women, after controlling for covariates. Findings underscore the need to obtain information on in-law conflict as a risk factor for IPV. In-law conflict should be included in the assessment of risk for IPV. For the prevention of IPV, family-based intervention is needed to work with victims as well as in-laws.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • Crime Victims / statistics & numerical data*
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Hong Kong / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Life Style
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / epidemiology*
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / ethnology
  • Spouse Abuse / prevention & control
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • Spouses / statistics & numerical data*
  • Women's Health