OBJECTIVE: To describe timing and severity of abuse before and during pregnancy for African American, Hispanic, and white Anglo American women. FINDINGS: Among 199 abused women, 18.1% of the women were abused during pregnancy but not the year before, 30.2% were abused the year before but not during pregnancy, and 51.8% were abused both the year before and during pregnancy. The timing of abuse did not vary by ethnicity. The three (ethnicity) by three (timing) factorial analysis of variance showed severity of abuse to vary by timing of abuse. Women reporting abuse both before and during pregnancy reported greater severity of abuse on each of the five measures than did women abused only before pregnancy or only during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Over half (51.8%) of the women reported abuse before and during pregnancy with these women reporting greater severity of abuse on all five severity scores. Timing and severity of abuse did not vary by ethnic group. The majority of women abused during pregnancy were also abused prior to pregnancy, indicating the need for universal screening of all women during each health encounter.

Adolescent↗

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The relationship between selected educational outcomes of senior RN-to-BSN students and their choice of advanced placement options available in the Maryland nursing articulation model.

If national standards for entry into practice are to be changed, viable routes to achievement of the BSN must be established in each state. Maryland has implemented a statewide articulation model that allows the registered nurse to obtain credit for work completed at lower division schools through one of three advanced placement options. This study sought to answer the question of whether there is a difference in selected academic outcomes of senior RN-to-BSN students who choose different pathways available in the model. Data were collected from all students (n = 113) completing clinical concepts courses at a large university school of nursing. The independent variables were mode of entry and pattern of study. The dependent variables were scores obtained on the National League for Nursing (NLN) Comprehensive Nursing Achievement Test for Baccalaureate Nursing Students and the grades obtained in the spring and fall nine-credit clinical concepts courses (examinations, formal papers, clinical evaluations). The entry pathway did not make a significant difference in terms of scores on the spring NLN examination, course tests, or paper grades. However, differences were noted in the clinical area. Transition course students achieved the highest mean clinical performance score, and direct transfer students achieved the lowest score. The implication for nursing education is that there appears to be no significant difference in academic achievement of RN-to-BSN students admitted for advanced placement using three different validating procedures.

Adult↗

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Identifying and helping battered pregnant women.

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Decision Making↗

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Abuse during pregnancy: associations with maternal health and infant birth weight.

A stratified, prospective cohort analysis was completed on 1,203 African American, Hispanic, and white women. All women were assessed for abuse at the first prenatal visit and twice more during pregnancy. They were also assessed for risk factors of low birth weight using Institute of Medicine correlates. Prevalence of physical or sexual abuse during pregnancy was 16% (1 of 6). Abused women were twice as likely to begin prenatal care during the third trimester, with abuse preceding late entry. Abuse was recurrent, with 60% of the women reporting repeated episodes. More severe abuse was significantly correlated with lower infant birth weights for all three ethnic groups. Abuse during pregnancy was a significant risk for low birth weight as well as maternal low weight gain, infections, anemia, smoking, and use of alcohol and drugs. When compared to women who were not abused, women abused during pregnancy delivered infants averaging 133 g less. Abused white women delivered infants with the greatest reduction in birth weight.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Safety behaviors of abused women after an intervention during pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate an intervention protocol, administered during pregnancy, for increasing safety-seeking behaviors of abused women. DESIGN: Prospective, ethnically stratified cohort analysis. SETTING: Public prenatal clinics. PARTICIPANTS: Pregnant women reporting physical or sexual abuse in the year before or during the present pregnancy. One hundred thirty-two women met study criteria, received the intervention, and were followed for 1 year after the completion of the pregnancy. INTERVENTION: Three education, advocacy, and community referral sessions that included information on safety behaviors. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Adoption of safety behaviors by abused women. Safety behaviors were measured before the intervention, twice during pregnancy, and at 2, 6, and 12 months after completion of the pregnancy. RESULTS: Repeated measures analysis of variance showed a significant increase in adoption of each safety behavior (p < .0001), with most behaviors showing a significant increase after the first intervention session. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant women who were abused and were offered an intervention protocol report a significant increase in safety behavior adoption during and after pregnancy. Abuse during pregnancy is common. Identification of abuse and immediate clinical intervention that includes information about safety behaviors can result in safety behavior adoption that may prevent future abuse and increase the safety and well-being of women and infants.

Adolescent↗