Effect of intimate partner violence on postpartum women's health in northeastern Thailand

In the present study, we investigated the prevalence of psychological, physical, and sexual violence perpetrated by an intimate partner, and the effects on health status of postpartum women who gave birth at two tertiary hospitals in northeastern Thailand. Participants were recruited during pregnancy and interviewed at 6 weeks' postpartum. Measures included the Short Form 12-Item Health Survey, Psychological Maltreatment of Women Inventory, and Severity of Violence against Women scale. Participants reported high rates of psychological abuse, threats and/or acts of physical abuse, and sexual violence. Abused postpartum women had lower well-being than non-abused women on all Short Form 12-Item Health Survey subscales, except the general health subscale. These women also had significant poorer health compared to non-abused women, in social functioning and mental health. The study findings suggest that routine screening for intimate partner violence by maternity services is urgently needed.