[Marital violence after birth].

OBJECTIVE

The purpose was to estimate the prevalence of marital violence during the year after childbirth in France.

METHODS

a survey has been carried out in three maternity units among primipara and secondipara women in 1993-1994. The women were interviewed in the three days after the delivery and they received a postal questionnaire 5 and 12 months later. The analysis includes 706 women.

RESULTS

the prevalence of marital violence during the 12 months after childbirth is equal to 4.1% (2.6%-5.6%). This percentage is higher among women living an unstable relationship with their partner or when the partner has not a job. These women who reported marital violence had a higher prevalence of previous miscarriage. They used more often psychotropic drugs and reported more often depressive symptoms than the other women.

CONCLUSION

physicians may be helpful by listening and counseling these women who receive low emotional and social support.