A longitudinal study on timing, type, and frequency of violence victimization and preterm birth

Exposure to violence is a well-established risk factor for preterm birth (PTB), but the impact of the types, timing, and frequency of violence remains unclear. Research often dichotomizes violence exposure as ever/never and relies on self-reports. We aimed to examine the impact of different violence victimization experiences on PTB utilizing linked administrative data for a birth cohort. Data from a 1990 Queensland birth cohort of 22,039 females were analyzed. Data on PTB and mental disorders were drawn from inpatient health records and violence experiences from Child Protection Services and Domestic Violence Orders records. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association between violence experiences and PTB. Out of 22,039 females, 4150 (18.8%) were registered as having at least one child, of which 11.1% ( n = 460) had at least one PTB. Mothers identifying as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and teenage mothers were at increased risk of having PTB. Experiencing violence for the first time within one-year before childbirth, being victimized both during childhood and adulthood, experiencing childhood neglect, or domestic violence during adulthood, and experiencing multiple episodes of victimization, were significantly associated with the risk of PTB. This study expands upon existing evidence on the association between violence exposure and PTB by exploring different aspects of violence victimization. It calls attention to an urgent need for early interventions to address childhood maltreatment and provide ongoing support to prevent violence during adulthood, particularly during the prenatal period, for reducing PTB.