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Physical abuse and low birthweight: a case-control study

  1. Hilde Grimstad Research Fellow 1,*,
  2. Berit Schei Senior Researcher 1,
  3. Bjørn Backe Assistant Professor 2,
  4. Geir Jacobsen Professor 1

Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005

DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb10975.x

Issue

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Volume 104, Issue 11, pages 1281–1287, November 1997

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How to Cite

Grimstad, H., Schei, B., Backe, B. and Jacobsen, G. (1997), Physical abuse and low birthweight: a case-control study. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, 104: 1281–1287. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1997.tb10975.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  2. 2

    Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway

*Correspondence: Dr H. Grimstad, Department of Community Medicine and General Practice, University Medical Centre, N-7005 Trondheim, Norway.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 19 AUG 2005
  2. Article first published online: 19 AUG 2005
  3. Received 7 January 1997 Returned for revision 17 April 1997 Revised version received 6 June 1997 Accepted 25 June 1997

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Objective To examine whether physical abuse of a woman by her partner was associated with low birthweight.

Design A case—control study.

Setting Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital of Trondheim, Norway.

Participants/sample Eighty-six women who were delivered of a low birthweight (< 2500 g) infant (cases) and 92 women who were delivered of an infant with birthweight geqslant R: gt-or-equal, slanted 2500 g (controls).

Methods An in-depth interview, either postpartum at the maternity ward or one year after delivery. Information about abuse was obtained by direct questioning and a modified version of the Conflict Tactics Scales.

Results A total of 17% of the women had experienced abuse by a partner. While 7% had been abused by their current partner before the index pregnancy only one woman reported abuse during pregnancy. Relatively more mothers of low birthweight infants were abused (20%) compared with controls (15%), but the association was not statistically significant (OR 1.37, 95% CI 0.63–2.99). Abused women reported a higher consumption of alcohol and cigarettes in pregnancy compared with nonabused women.

Conclusion Abuse was not found to be a risk factor for low birthweight in this study.

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