This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Murphy, C. C.
Right arrow Articles by Mont, J. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Murphy, C. C.
Right arrow Articles by Mont, J. D.
Related Collections
Right arrow Other evidence-based medicine
Right arrow Abuse (child, partner, elder)
Right arrow Maternal-fetal medicine
Right arrow Pregnancy
Right arrow Neonates
CMAJ • May 29, 2001; 164 (11)
© 2001 Canadian Medical Association or its licensors

Research
Recherche

Abuse: A risk factor for low birth weight? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Claire C. Murphy*, Berit Schei{dagger}, Terri L. Myhr{dagger} and Janice Du Mont{dagger}

From the *Department of Family and Community Medicine and the {dagger}Centre for Research in Women's Health, Sunnybrook & Women's College Health Sciences Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.

Background: Abuse during pregnancy is considered to be a potentially modifiable risk factor for low birth weight (LBW). We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the strength of association between physical, sexual or emotional abuse during pregnancy and LBW.

Methods: We selected papers for review from an electronic search of MEDLINE (1966–1999), CINAHL (1982–1997) and the Cochrane Library. We retrieved articles using the following MeSH headings and keywords: "infant low birth weight," "fetus," "perinatal care," "pregnancy," "prenatal care," "infant mortality," "violence," "battered women," "spouse abuse," "infant morbidity," "antenatal" and "neonatal." When necessary, we contacted authors to obtain data that were not included in the published material. We analyzed the methodological quality of each eligible study and selected those of the highest quality for meta-analysis.

Results: We reviewed 14 studies, of which 8 were selected for meta-analysis. Using a fixed-effects model, we found that women who reported physical, sexual or emotional abuse during pregnancy were more likely than nonabused women to give birth to a baby with LBW (odds ratio 1.4, 95% confidence interval 1.1–1.8).

Interpretation: Abuse may be part of a complex interaction of factors that contribute to LBW.




This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Arch Pediatr Adolesc MedHome page
K. Asling-Monemi, R. T. Naved, and L. A. Persson
Violence Against Women and Increases in the Risk of Diarrheal Disease and Respiratory Tract Infections in Infancy: A Prospective Cohort Study in Bangladesh
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, October 1, 2009; 163(10): 931 - 936.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Arch. Dis. Child.Home page
K Asling-Monemi, R T Naved, and L A Persson
Violence against women and the risk of fetal and early childhood growth impairment: a cohort study in rural Bangladesh
Arch. Dis. Child., October 1, 2009; 94(10): 775 - 779.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AJPHHome page
J. G. Joseph, A. A. E. El-Mohandes, M. Kiely, M. N. El-Khorazaty, M. G. Gantz, A. A. Johnson, K. S. Katz, S. M. Blake, M. W. Rossi, and S. Subramanian
Reducing Psychosocial and Behavioral Pregnancy Risk Factors: Results of a Randomized Clinical Trial Among High-Risk Pregnant African American Women
Am J Public Health, June 1, 2009; 99(6): 1053 - 1061.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Violence Against WomenHome page
M. T. Perales, S. M. Cripe, N. Lam, S. E. Sanchez, E. Sanchez, and M. A. Williams
Prevalence, Types, and Pattern of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant Women in Lima, Peru
Violence Against Women, February 1, 2009; 15(2): 224 - 250.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
J. C. Campbell PhD RN, N. Abrahams PhD RN, and L. Martin MD MPH
Perpetration of violence against intimate partners: health care implications from global data
Can. Med. Assoc. J., September 9, 2008; 179(6): 511 - 512.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
L. A. Morland, G. A. Leskin, C. Rebecca Block, J. C. Campbell, and M. J. Friedman
Intimate Partner Violence and Miscarriage: Examination of the Role of Physical and Psychological Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
J Interpers Violence, May 1, 2008; 23(5): 652 - 669.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
D. Rosen, J. S. Seng, R. M. Tolman, and G. Mallinger
Intimate Partner Violence, Depression, and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder as Additional Predictors of Low Birth Weight Infants Among Low-Income Mothers
J Interpers Violence, October 1, 2007; 22(10): 1305 - 1314.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Trauma Violence AbuseHome page
J. McFarlane
Pregnancy Following Partner Rape: What We Know and What We Need To Know
Trauma Violence Abuse, April 1, 2007; 8(2): 127 - 134.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 AJPHHome page
S. Ahmed, M. A. Koenig, and R. Stephenson
Effects of Domestic Violence on Perinatal and Early-Childhood Mortality: Evidence From North India
Am J Public Health, August 1, 2006; 96(8): 1423 - 1428.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 AJPHHome page
L. J. Koenig, D. J. Whitaker, R. A. Royce, T. E. Wilson, K. Ethier, and M. I. Fernandez
Physical and Sexual Violence During Pregnancy and After Delivery: A Prospective Multistate Study of Women With or at Risk for HIV Infection
Am J Public Health, June 1, 2006; 96(6): 1052 - 1059.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Trauma Violence AbuseHome page
C. C. Pallitto, J. C. Campbell, and P. O'Campo
Is Intimate Partner Violence Associated with Unintended Pregnancy? A Review of the Literature
Trauma Violence Abuse, July 1, 2005; 6(3): 217 - 235.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
S. B. Plichta
Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences: Policy and Practice Implications
J Interpers Violence, November 1, 2004; 19(11): 1296 - 1323.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 J Interpers ViolenceHome page
J. McFarlane
Intimate Partner Violence and Physical Health Consequences: Commentary on Plichta
J Interpers Violence, November 1, 2004; 19(11): 1335 - 1341.
[PDF]

Home page
 Violence Against WomenHome page
J. Campbell, C. Garcia-Moreno, and P. Sharps
Abuse During Pregnancy in Industrialized and Developing Countries
Violence Against Women, July 1, 2004; 10(7): 770 - 789.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 Violence Against WomenHome page
M. R. Decker, S. L. Martin, and K. E. Moracco
Homicide Risk Factors Among Pregnant Women Abused by Their Partners: Who Leaves the Perpetrator and Who Stays?
Violence Against Women, May 1, 2004; 10(5): 498 - 513.
[Abstract] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
C. N. Wathen and H. L. MacMillan
Prevention of violence against women: Recommendation statement from the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health Care
Can. Med. Assoc. J., September 16, 2003; 169(6): 582 - 584.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 JAMAHome page
C. N. Wathen and H. L. MacMillan
Interventions for Violence Against Women: Scientific Review
JAMA, February 5, 2003; 289(5): 589 - 600.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Evid. Based Nurs.Home page
Other Articles Noted
Evid. Based Nurs., October 1, 2001; 4(4): E1 - 11.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 CMAJHome page
J. C. Campbell
Abuse during pregnancy: a quintessential threat to maternal and child health -- so when do we start to act?
Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 1, 2001; 164(11): 1578 - 1579.
[Full Text] [PDF]