Intimate partner violence, prenatal stress, and substance use among pregnant Black women.
Liying Zhang, Rhonda K Dailey, Mercedes Price and 2 others
PMID 33590543WHAT IT FOUND
Pregnant Black women who reported partner violence in the year before pregnancy had higher stress and were more likely to smoke cigarettes or use marijuana during pregnancy.
Ask about past violence at prenatal visits, not just current violence.
Key findings
01Fifteen women reported IPV during the 12 months before pregnancy.
02Women who reported IPV before pregnancy were more likely to smoke cigarettes (40.0% vs. 14.8%), use marijuana (40.0% vs. 14.9%), and report higher perceived stress (22.67 vs. 18.64) during pregnancy.
03In adjusted analyses, IPV before pregnancy was associated with higher odds of smoking and marijuana use during pregnancy and higher perceived stress; perceived stress partially mediated the link between IPV and marijuana use.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was cross-sectional, so it cannot show that IPV caused stress or substance use. Only a small number of women reported IPV, which limits statistical power. Data were self-reported and may be affected by recall or social desirability. The sample came from two Midwest metropolitan areas, so results may not apply elsewhere. IPV was measured with a single yes/no item, not a validated multi-item scale. The path model explained a small share of the variance in marijuana use and perceived stress.
Declared interests
The supplied text does not include a conflict-of-interest statement. The publication types list NIH extramural research support.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that IPV caused higher stress or substance use. The study was cross-sectional, few women reported IPV, and the measures were self-reported, so it shows associations, not cause.