Violence - Revision history

Barb: /* "Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse */

2016-11-18T18:24:20Z

"Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:24, 18 November 2016
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	''"Social aspects of the battered baby syndrome," M.S. Smith, R. Hanson and S. Noble, Br. J. Psychiatry 125:568(1974). ''		''"Social aspects of the battered baby syndrome," M.S. Smith, R. Hanson and S. Noble, Br. J. Psychiatry 125:568(1974). ''
	:A British study of 134 battered children under five years of age compared to children under five years who were emergency hospital admissions with no battering found that abortion had been considered by only 12% of the mothers of battered children vs. 2% of controls, which was not considered statistically significant. Family size and family income was similar between the two groups but battered children were more likely to be illegitimate and mothers of battered children tended to be more isolated than controls.		:A British study of 134 battered children under five years of age compared to children under five years who were emergency hospital admissions with no battering found that abortion had been considered by only 12% of the mothers of battered children vs. 2% of controls, which was not considered statistically significant. Family size and family income was similar between the two groups but battered children were more likely to be illegitimate and mothers of battered children tended to be more isolated than controls.

			"[http://www.messengers2.com/wanted-or-welcomed-the-real-choice-that-decides-which-child-survives/ Wanted or Welcomed: The Real Choice That Decides Which Child Survives]" Ney P.

	==Child Abuse and Its Relationship to Abortion==		==Child Abuse and Its Relationship to Abortion==

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2016-10-27T22:54:28Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:54, 27 October 2016
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	:OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between termination and other reproductive events, socio-demographic characteristics and experience of violence among a community-based national sample of young Australian women. METHODS: Using multiple logistic regression, we analysed data from the Younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health comprising 14,776 young women aged 18-23 in survey 1 (1996), of whom 9,683 aged 22-27 also responded to survey 2 (2000). We stratified respondents into those aged below 20 and those who were older at survey 1. We compared the characteristics associated with terminations among teenage women in 1996 (survey 1) with those of women aged over 20 in 1996 who had not then reported a termination and who responded to survey 2 in 2000. Finally, we compared the characteristics of women reporting terminations, births, preterm births and miscarriages. RESULTS: Women reporting teenage terminations were more likely to be in a de facto relationship (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.17-3.21), less well educated (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.44-3.74), have no private health insurance, and be a victim of partner violence (OR = 3.11, 95% CI 1.76-5.49). Women reporting later terminations were also more likely to be abused by a partner (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 2.14-5.81).The relationship with violence held for the other reproductive events. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Partner violence is a strong predictor of termination and other reproductive outcomes among young Australian women. Education has a protective effect. Prevention and reduction of partner violence may reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancy.		:OBJECTIVE: To examine the associations between termination and other reproductive events, socio-demographic characteristics and experience of violence among a community-based national sample of young Australian women. METHODS: Using multiple logistic regression, we analysed data from the Younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health comprising 14,776 young women aged 18-23 in survey 1 (1996), of whom 9,683 aged 22-27 also responded to survey 2 (2000). We stratified respondents into those aged below 20 and those who were older at survey 1. We compared the characteristics associated with terminations among teenage women in 1996 (survey 1) with those of women aged over 20 in 1996 who had not then reported a termination and who responded to survey 2 in 2000. Finally, we compared the characteristics of women reporting terminations, births, preterm births and miscarriages. RESULTS: Women reporting teenage terminations were more likely to be in a de facto relationship (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.17-3.21), less well educated (OR = 2.32, 95% CI 1.44-3.74), have no private health insurance, and be a victim of partner violence (OR = 3.11, 95% CI 1.76-5.49). Women reporting later terminations were also more likely to be abused by a partner (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 2.14-5.81).The relationship with violence held for the other reproductive events. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: Partner violence is a strong predictor of termination and other reproductive outcomes among young Australian women. Education has a protective effect. Prevention and reduction of partner violence may reduce the rate of unwanted pregnancy.


			[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15704695 Violence against young Australian women and association with reproductive events: a cross-sectional analysis of a national population sample.] Taft AJ, Watson LF, Lee C. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2004 Aug;28(4):324-9.

			:OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate associations between violence and younger women's reproductive events using Survey 1 (1996) data of the Younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH).
			:METHODS: Multinomial regression, using composite variables for both violence and reproductive events, adjusting for socioeconomic variables and weighted for rural and remote areas.
			:RESULTS: 23.8% of 14,784 women aged 18 to 23 years reported violence; 12.6% reported non-partner violence in the previous year; and 11.2% reported ever having had a violent relationship with a partner. Of the latter group, 43% (4.8% overall) also reported violence in the past year. Compared with women reporting no violence, women reporting partner but not recent violence (OR 2.55, 95% CI 2.10-3.09) or partner and recent violence (OR 3.96, 95% CI 3.18-4.93) were significantly more likely to have had one or more pregnancies. Conversely, having had a pregnancy (2561) was associated with an 80% increase in prevalence of any violence and a 230% increase in partner violence. '''Among women who had a pregnancy, having had a miscarriage or termination was associated with violence.''' Partner and recent violence is strongly associated with having had a miscarriage, whether alone (OR = 2.85, 95% CI 1.74-4.66), with a termination (OR = 4.60, 2.26-9.35), or with birth, miscarriage and a termination (OR = 4.12, 1.89-9.00).
			:CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Violence among young women of childbearing age is a factor for which doctors should be vigilant, well-trained and supported to identify and manage effectively.

Barb: /* "Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse */

2016-10-27T22:12:12Z

"Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:12, 27 October 2016
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	==''"Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse==		=="Wantedness" as a Factor in Child Abuse==


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	''"Social aspects of the battered baby syndrome," M.S. Smith, R. Hanson and S. Noble, Br. J. Psychiatry 125:568(1974). ''		''"Social aspects of the battered baby syndrome," M.S. Smith, R. Hanson and S. Noble, Br. J. Psychiatry 125:568(1974). ''
	:A British study of 134 battered children under five years of age compared to children under five years who were emergency hospital admissions with no battering found that abortion had been considered by only 12% of the mothers of battered children vs. 2% of controls, which was not considered statistically significant. Family size and family income was similar between the two groups but battered children were more likely to be illegitimate and mothers of battered children tended to be more isolated than controls.		:A British study of 134 battered children under five years of age compared to children under five years who were emergency hospital admissions with no battering found that abortion had been considered by only 12% of the mothers of battered children vs. 2% of controls, which was not considered statistically significant. Family size and family income was similar between the two groups but battered children were more likely to be illegitimate and mothers of battered children tended to be more isolated than controls.


	==Child Abuse and Its Relationship to Abortion==		==Child Abuse and Its Relationship to Abortion==

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2016-10-27T22:11:45Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:11, 27 October 2016
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	ABSTACT: AIMS: To measure the prevalence of family violence reported by women seeking a termination of pregnancy (TOP). METHODS: A cross sectional survey involving consecutive women at one Health Waikato abortion clinic. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire in private counselling rooms. RESULTS: Sixty-two of the 125 women invited to participate did so (response rate: 49.6%). The reported lifetime prevalence of physical or sexual abuse was 50.8%. The reported lifetime prevalence of physical abuse was 43.3% and that of sexual abuse was 32.2%. The reported prevalence of physical abuse within the last year was 13.3%, and of sexual abuse within the last year was 8.5%. Of women reporting a lifetime history of physical abuse, 69% reported that her partner was the perpetrator/one of the perpetrators of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of family violence amongst women attending an abortion clinic. Consideration should be given to screening for family violence in abortion clinics in New Zealand. Screening should be accompanied by the provision of appropriate information and support for women with family violence issues.		ABSTACT: AIMS: To measure the prevalence of family violence reported by women seeking a termination of pregnancy (TOP). METHODS: A cross sectional survey involving consecutive women at one Health Waikato abortion clinic. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire in private counselling rooms. RESULTS: Sixty-two of the 125 women invited to participate did so (response rate: 49.6%). The reported lifetime prevalence of physical or sexual abuse was 50.8%. The reported lifetime prevalence of physical abuse was 43.3% and that of sexual abuse was 32.2%. The reported prevalence of physical abuse within the last year was 13.3%, and of sexual abuse within the last year was 8.5%. Of women reporting a lifetime history of physical abuse, 69% reported that her partner was the perpetrator/one of the perpetrators of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of family violence amongst women attending an abortion clinic. Consideration should be given to screening for family violence in abortion clinics in New Zealand. Screening should be accompanied by the provision of appropriate information and support for women with family violence issues.

			'''[https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18302736 Depression and termination of pregnancy (induced abortion) in a national cohort of young Australian women: the confounding effect of women's experience of violence.] Taft AJ, Watson LF. BMC Public Health. 2008 Feb 26;8:75. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-75.'''

			BACKGROUND: Termination of pregnancy is a common and safe medical procedure in countries where it is legal. One in four Australian women terminates a pregnancy, most often when young. There is inconclusive evidence about whether pregnancy termination affects women's rates of depression. There is evidence of a strong association between partner violence and depression. Our objective was to examine the associations with depression of women's experience of violence, pregnancy termination, births and socio-demographic characteristics, among a population-based sample of young Australian women.

			METHODS: The data from the Younger cohort of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health comprised 14,776 women aged 18-23 in Survey I (1996) of whom 9683 aged 22-27 also responded to Survey 2 (2000). With linked data, we distinguished terminations, violence and depression reported before and after 1996.We used logistic regression to examine the association of depression (CES-D 10) as both a dichotomous and linear measure in 2000 with pregnancy termination, numbers of births and with violence separately and then in mutually adjusted models with sociodemographic variables.

			RESULTS: 30% of young women were depressed. Eleven percent (n = 1076) reported a termination by 2000. A first termination before 1996 and between 1996 and 2000 were both associated with depression in a univariate model (OR 1.37, 95%CI 1.12 to 1.66; OR 1.52, 95%CI 1.24 to 1.87). However, after adjustment for violence, numbers of births and sociodemographic variables (OR 1.22, 95%CI 0.99 to 1.51) this became only marginally significant, a similar association with having two or more births (1.26, 95%CI. 1.00 to 1.58). In contrast, any form of violence but especially that of partner violence in 1996 or 2000, was significantly associated with depression: in univariate (OR 2.31, 95%CI 1.97 to 2.70 or 2.45, 95% CI 1.99 to 3.04) and multivariate models (AOR 2.06, 95%CI 1.74 to 2.43 or 2.12, 95%CI 1.69 to 2.65). Linear regression showed a four fold greater effect of violence than termination or births.

			:CONCLUSION: Violence, especially partner violence, makes a significantly greater contribution to women's depression compared with pregnancy termination or births. Any strategy to reduce the burden of women's depression should include prevention or reduction of violence against women and strengthening women's sexual and reproductive health to ensure that pregnancies are planned and wanted.

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2015-03-31T21:15:21Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:15, 31 March 2015
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	:'''Conclusions:''' IPV is associated with TOP. Novel public health approaches are required to prevent IPV. TOP services provide an opportune health-based setting to design and test interventions.		:'''Conclusions:''' IPV is associated with TOP. Novel public health approaches are required to prevent IPV. TOP services provide an opportune health-based setting to design and test interventions.

			''[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22959631 Intimate partner violence, abortion, and unintended pregnancy: results from the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence.] Pallitto CC1, García-Moreno C, Jansen HA, Heise L, Ellsberg M, Watts C; WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2013 Jan;120(1):3-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.07.003. Epub 2012 Sep 6.

			:OBJECTIVE: To explore how intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with unintended pregnancy and abortion in primarily low- and middle-income countries.

			:METHODS: Population data are presented from 17 518 ever-partnered women participating in the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence in 15 sites in 10 countries. Using multiple logistic regression analyses, associations between physical and/or sexual partner violence and abortion and unintended pregnancy were explored.

			:RESULTS: Women with a history of IPV had significantly higher odds of unintended pregnancy in 8 of 14 sites and of abortion in 12 of 15 sites. Pooled estimates showed increased odds of unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.53-1.86) and abortion (adjusted OR 2.68; 95% CI, 2.34-3.06), after adjusting for confounding factors. Reducing IPV by 50% could potentially reduce unintended pregnancy by 2%-18% and abortion by 4.5%-40%, according to population-attributable risk estimates.

			:CONCLUSION: IPV is a consistent and strong risk factor for unintended pregnancy and abortion across a variety of settings. Unintended pregnancy terminated through unsafe abortion can result in death or serious complications. Therefore, reducing IPV can significantly reduce risks to maternal and reproductive health.

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2015-03-31T21:11:31Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:11, 31 March 2015
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	:'''Conclusions:''' IPV is associated with TOP. Novel public health approaches are required to prevent IPV. TOP services provide an opportune health-based setting to design and test interventions.		:'''Conclusions:''' IPV is associated with TOP. Novel public health approaches are required to prevent IPV. TOP services provide an opportune health-based setting to design and test interventions.


			''[http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2393-12-12.pdf Induced abortion, pregnancy loss and intimate partner violence in Tanzania: a population based study.] Stöckl H1, Filippi V, Watts C, Mbwambo JK. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2012 Mar 5;12:12. doi: 10.1186/1471-2393-12-12.''

			:BACKGROUND: Violence by an intimate partner is increasingly recognized as an important public and reproductive health issue. The aim of this study is to investigate the extent to which physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence is associated with induced abortion and pregnancy loss from other causes and to compare this with other, more commonly recognized explanatory factors.

			:METHODS: This study analyzes the data of the Tanzania section of the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence, a large population-based cross-sectional survey of women of reproductive age in Dar es Salaam and Mbeya, Tanzania, conducted from 2001 to 2002. All women who answered positively to at least one of the questions about specific acts of physical or sexual violence committed by a partner towards her at any point in her life were considered to have experienced intimate partner violence. Associations between self reported induced abortion and pregnancy loss with intimate partner violence were analysed using multiple regression models.

			:RESULTS: Lifetime physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence was reported by 41% and 56% of ever partnered, ever pregnant women in Dar es Salaam and Mbeya respectively. Among the ever pregnant, ever partnered women, 23% experienced involuntary pregnancy loss, while 7% reported induced abortion. Even after adjusting for other explanatory factors, women who experienced intimate partner violence were 1.6 (95%CI: 1.06,1.60) times more likely to report an pregnancy loss and 1.9 (95%CI: 1.30,2.89) times more likely to report an induced abortion. Intimate partner violence had a stronger influence on induced abortion and pregnancy loss than women's age, socio-economic status, and number of live born children.

			:CONCLUSIONS: Intimate partner violence is likely to be an important influence on levels of induced abortion and pregnancy loss in Tanzania. Preventing intimate partner violence may therefore be beneficial for maternal health and pregnancy outcomes.

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2014-01-08T19:42:25Z

Family Violence and Abortion

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 ==Family Violence and Abortion==
 ''[http://www.jogc.com/abstracts/full/200705_womenshealth_1.pdf The prevalence of intimate partner violence among women and teenagers seeking abortion compared with those continuing pregnancy.] Bourassa D, Berube J.  J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2007;29:415–23.''
@@ Line 185: / Line 193: @@
 ''[http://www.acog.org/Resources%20And%20Publications/Committee%20Opinions/Committee%20on%20Health%20Care%20for%20Underserved%20Women/Reproductive%20and%20Sexual%20Coercion.aspx Reproductive and Sexual Coercion.] Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. ACOG. Feb 2013''
-This ACOG committee recommends efforts to educate the public and to prevent "sexual coercion," including disregard by men for getting women pregnant, but studiously avoids raising any concerns about men pressuring women to abort pregnancies.
+:This ACOG committee recommends efforts to educate the public and to prevent "sexual coercion," including disregard by men for getting women pregnant, but studiously avoids raising any concerns about men pressuring women to abort pregnancies.
 ==Abortion as a Risk Factor for Violence During Pregnancy==

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2013-04-29T19:12:46Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:12, 29 April 2013
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	''"Women Who Seek Therapeutic Abortion: A Comparison with women Who Complete Their Pregnancies," C. Ford, P. Castelnuovo-Tedesco, K. Long, American Journal of Psychiatry 129(5):58/ November, 1972.''		''"Women Who Seek Therapeutic Abortion: A Comparison with women Who Complete Their Pregnancies," C. Ford, P. Castelnuovo-Tedesco, K. Long, American Journal of Psychiatry 129(5):58/ November, 1972.''
	:In a study of women seeking abortion for mental health reasons compared with a control group of pregnant women not seeking abortion, the abortion group was found to be more likely to have received psychiatric treatment (42.5% v. 21.1%) and much more likely to exhibit masochistic behavior patterns (35% v. 6%). Many women in the abortion group had been involved in relationships with men which they described as abusive and assaultive. Other women had engaged in self-destructive behavior such as cutting themselves with knives or scissors. Other women were involved in self-defeating behavior such as supporting irresponsible husbands or were married to alcoholics and/or philanderers.		:In a study of women seeking abortion for mental health reasons compared with a control group of pregnant women not seeking abortion, the abortion group was found to be more likely to have received psychiatric treatment (42.5% v. 21.1%) and much more likely to exhibit masochistic behavior patterns (35% v. 6%). Many women in the abortion group had been involved in relationships with men which they described as abusive and assaultive. Other women had engaged in self-destructive behavior such as cutting themselves with knives or scissors. Other women were involved in self-defeating behavior such as supporting irresponsible husbands or were married to alcoholics and/or philanderers.


			''[http://www.acog.org/Resources%20And%20Publications/Committee%20Opinions/Committee%20on%20Health%20Care%20for%20Underserved%20Women/Reproductive%20and%20Sexual%20Coercion.aspx Reproductive and Sexual Coercion.] Committee on Health Care for Underserved Women. ACOG. Feb 2013''

			This ACOG committee recommends efforts to educate the public and to prevent "sexual coercion," including disregard by men for getting women pregnant, but studiously avoids raising any concerns about men pressuring women to abort pregnancies.

	==Abortion as a Risk Factor for Violence During Pregnancy==		==Abortion as a Risk Factor for Violence During Pregnancy==

Barb: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2013-04-29T19:07:45Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:07, 29 April 2013
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	==Family Violence and Abortion==		==Family Violence and Abortion==

			''[http://www.jogc.com/abstracts/full/200705_womenshealth_1.pdf The prevalence of intimate partner violence among women and teenagers seeking abortion compared with those continuing pregnancy.] Bourassa D, Berube J. J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2007;29:415–23.''

			Interviews with 350 women seeking abortion found that 25.7 percent reported being a victim of physical or sexual abuse in the year prior to the abortion, and 41.1 percent reported being a victim of violence at some point during their lifetime. These rates were significantly higher than for a group of women interviewed a a perinatal clinic who were carrying a pregnancy to term.

			Due to the high rates of exposure to partner violence among women seeking abortions, the authors recommend pre-abortion screening for intimate partner violence with appropriate education and referrals to reduce and avoid violence.

			Note: While this study's title includes the phrase "intimate partner violence" the questionnaire on which it is based does not delineate whether or not the male partner involved in the pregnancy was the perpetrator of violence or abuse. Instead, the questionnaire includes exposure to violence or abuse of nearly every form from any source. Unfortunately, the [http://www.dbhds.virginia.gov/documents/scrn-pw-AAS-Eng.pdf survey instrument] appears to be designed to maximize reports of violence but lacks the specificity required to actually determine, as one would expect, if the violence was from the male partner involved in the pregnancy. In this study, for example, they collapsed exposure to violence from the current partner and an ex-partner, without delineating if the violence was reported relative to the man who impregnated her. Furthermore, nothing in the questionnaire aids in determining if an abusive partner is pressuring for or against an abortion.

			A noteworthy finding was that lifetime exposure to violence increased with age among women in the abortion group but decreased with age for women in the birthing group. Since risk of abortion increases following a prior abortion, it is likely that older women in the abortion group had a greater incidence of multiple abortions in their history. The heightened risk of abuse in older women having abortions may be at least in part due to prior exposure to abortion(s).



	''[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18275577?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum Contraceptive use and associations with intimate partner violence among a population-based sample of New Zealand women.] Fanslow J, Whitehead A, Silva M, Robinson E. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008 Feb;48(1):83-9.''		''[http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18275577?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum Contraceptive use and associations with intimate partner violence among a population-based sample of New Zealand women.] Fanslow J, Whitehead A, Silva M, Robinson E. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2008 Feb;48(1):83-9.''

Martha: /* Family Violence and Abortion */

2008-08-14T14:37:41Z

Family Violence and Abortion

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:37, 14 August 2008
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	See also [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526986 news report]		See also [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526986 news report]

	Women who had experienced domestic violence were twice as likely to have an abortion than other women (21% vs 10%). They were also more likely to have miscarriages (42% vs 28%).		Women who had experienced domestic violence were twice as likely to have an abortion than other women (21% vs 10%). They were also more likely to have miscarriages (42% vs 28%). '''Need to check this source. News reports may be pointing to a different study by Fanslow.'''

			''Prevalence of family violence amongst women attending an abortion clinic in New Zealand. Whitehead A, Fanslow J. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2005 Aug;45(4):321-4.''

			ABSTACT: AIMS: To measure the prevalence of family violence reported by women seeking a termination of pregnancy (TOP). METHODS: A cross sectional survey involving consecutive women at one Health Waikato abortion clinic. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire in private counselling rooms. RESULTS: Sixty-two of the 125 women invited to participate did so (response rate: 49.6%). The reported lifetime prevalence of physical or sexual abuse was 50.8%. The reported lifetime prevalence of physical abuse was 43.3% and that of sexual abuse was 32.2%. The reported prevalence of physical abuse within the last year was 13.3%, and of sexual abuse within the last year was 8.5%. Of women reporting a lifetime history of physical abuse, 69% reported that her partner was the perpetrator/one of the perpetrators of abuse. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated a high prevalence of family violence amongst women attending an abortion clinic. Consideration should be given to screening for family violence in abortion clinics in New Zealand. Screening should be accompanied by the provision of appropriate information and support for women with family violence issues.