Pregnant women ‘face greater abuse risk’

WOMEN in abusive relationships can be at greater risk of physical and sexual violence when pregnant, women support agencies have warned.

A survey by Adapt House Women’s Refuge in Limerick found that pregnancy is a high-risk period of violence on women. It backs up similar reports from Women’s Aid and the Rotunda Hospital which found that pregnant women suffer high rates of abuse, which can result in miscarriage or foetal damage.

In 1995, a survey by Women’s Aid found that 55% of women who were affected by violence suffered attacks while pregnant. Of these, 50% of pregnancies ended in miscarriage.