Project Summary:
Perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue and is related to nearly 50% of pregnancy-related homicides. In Wisconsin, 6.5% of pregnant people experience emotional or sexual IPV, and 4% experience physical IPV. Women veterans are at an increased risk of experiencing perinatal IPV. Approximately 14% of women veterans experience IPV during and after pregnancy, and victimization is related to pregnancy health risk behaviors (i.e., smoking, alcohol, and substance use). VHA established maternity care coordinators (MCCs) at each site to support women veterans and screen for important health factors, including perinatal IPV.
This project proposes evaluating the IPV screening practices of the MCC program within the VHA. This is a mixed-methods study that will incorporate longitudinal EHR data to examine the implementation of screening and the prevalence of perinatal IPV. The study team will also examine health outcomes related to perinatal IPV such as recurrence of violence across the postpartum period, adherence to prenatal care (number of prenatal health care appointments attended), obstetric outcomes (e.g., preterm birth, hypertension, fetal growth restriction, etc.), and behavioral health outcomes (e.g., postpartum distress, suicidal ideation, depression, substance use, etc.) for women screened over the past 4-years. This study will collect interview data from MCCs, OBGYNs, and veterans in order to identify barriers and facilitators to screening and intervention.
Finally, findings will be used to develop a Perinatal IPV and maternal health consultation team to improve interdisciplinary collaboration on care for women veterans experiencing IPV. The feasibility and acceptability of this team will be assessed. Results from this project have the potential to reduce perinatal IPV and improve care for women veterans. Findings will also inform policies and practices in the public and private sectors to reduce perinatal health disparities.