Homicide among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States: A Review of the Literature

Download as .RIS

Citation

Samandari, Ghazaleh; Martin, Sandra L.; & Schiro, Sharon (2010). Homicide among Pregnant and Postpartum Women in the United States: A Review of the Literature. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse, 11(1), 42-54.

Abstract

Eighteen articles that examined the extent of homicide among pregnant and/or postpartum women in the United States are reviewed, documenting the studies' methods and findings. Results from proportional mortality analyses (studies that examined only deaths, rather than deaths within a larger population of living individuals) showed a modicum of support for the contention that homicide may account for a greater proportion of the deaths among pregnant/postpartum women than among other women of reproductive age. However, results from more comprehensive analyses that estimated homicide risks/rates (studies that examined deaths within the context of living populations) did not find any evidence to suggest that pregnant/postpartum women experience a greater risk/rate of homicide compared to other women of reproductive age. This difference in findings is discussed in light of the different methodological approaches.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1524838009358891

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2010

Journal Title

Trauma, Violence, & Abuse

Author(s)

Samandari, Ghazaleh
Martin, Sandra L.
Schiro, Sharon