Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence and Disability: Implications for Women’s Health Care

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during the perinatal period is a significant public health concern with adverse consequences for maternal, fetal, and infant health. Women with disabilities experience disproportionately high rates of perinatal IPV, often compounded by disability-related abuse that exploits dependence on caregiving, mobility, communication, or access to medical care. Despite frequent contact with health care providers during the perinatal period, IPV among women with disabilities remains underrecognized and inadequately addressed. Objective: To summarize current knowledge on perinatal IPV among women with disabilities and highlight considerations for identification and response within perinatal health care settings. Content: This narrative review synthesizes existing literature on the prevalence and risk factors for perinatal IPV among women with disabilities, including disability-related abuse. We describe associated physical and mental health consequences and examine multilevel barriers to identification and disclosure, including structural, provider-level, and interpersonal factors that contribute to inequities in care. Practical approaches for disability-informed IPV screening, safety planning, and referral are discussed within trauma-informed care frameworks relevant to perinatal and women’s health settings. Conclusions: Improving recognition and response to perinatal IPV among women with disabilities is critical for advancing equity in maternal health care and improving maternal and infant outcomes.