DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND PREGNANCY
Research shows:
From 1 in 3 to 1 in 6 (37%) of pregnant women are abused
40% domestic violence starts with the first pregnancy
Domestic violence escalates during pregnancy
40-60% pregnant women who are assaulted are hit in the abdomen
Women who have experienced domestic violence more than 2x at risk of miscarriage than women who have not been abused

AFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE IN PREGNANCY
Stillbirths
Miscarriages
Preterm deliveries
Low birth weight babies
Women who are pregnant are more likely to develop complications from domestic violence abuse than from any other cause.

IMPACT ON PARENTING
Children are conceived through rape
Pregnancies are used as a means of control
Children are encouraged to choose to side with the man
Children join in the abuse and/or replicate the man’s behaviour(Kelly, 1996: 130)
AND
Children are more likely to experience negative fathering from domestic violence perpetrators than other children

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND CHILD ABUSE
In between 40-80% of cases where there was domestic violence, the children had also been abused by the perpetrator (Goddard and Hiller, 1993)
62% of NSPCC case files accepted for service, domestic violence was also an issue
There are around 150 child deaths annually in England and Wales. The majority are caused by fathers or stepfathers who have a history of violence towards their partners as well as towards the child concerned. (North Tyneside, ACPC D/V training)

HOW DOES DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AFFECT CHILDREN?

PHYSICAL
Injuries
Weight loss
Disruptions in schooling and/or living arrangements

BEHAVIOURAL
Truanting / running away
Aggression/ Anger
Poor social skills
Over-achievement
Truanting/running away/difficulties at school

PSYCHOLOGICAL
Difficulties with trusting others
Secretive/silent/unable to tell
Confusion
Nightmares/sleep disturbances

EMOTIONAL
Sadness / depression
Feeling guilty / to blame
Fear / insecurity / tension
Low self esteem
(Making an impact, 1998 pg 44/45)

FACTORS INFLUENCING THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN
Age
Race
Gender
Culture
Disability
Sexuality
(Making an impact, 1998)
Relationships with parents/siblings
Frequency/form/length of exposure to violence
Relationships outside the family home

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
The problems may include a range of behavioural and physical problems
Research shows problems include:
Insomnia
Nightmares
Being fearful of going to bed
Bedwetting
Headaches

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON PRE-SCHOOL CHILDREN
Research shows problems include:
Stomach aches
Diarrhoea
Asthma
Eczema
Behavioural problems
Delayed development

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON YOUNGER SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN
Research shows problems include:
Erratic school attendance
Poor performance
Lack of concentration
Aggression/anger
Introversion/withdrawal
Fear/insecurity/tension

THE IMPACT OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON YOUNG PEOPLE
As well as having difficulties with school, young people may stay away or run away from home, use drugs and or alcohol

According to Harris Henandes, Bluch & Keplin (1993)
“domestic violence can produce reactions identical to those seen as a result of war or major disaster” (pg 18)

THE MAIN MANIFESTATION OF PTSD IN CHILDREN
Numbness and detachment with withdrawal
Disturbed sleep (possibly with recurrent dreams)
Impaired concentration and memory
Hyper-alertness and ‘jumpiness’
Experiencing of ‘flashbacks’
Silvern and Kaersvang conclude that:
Current understanding of the inexorable impact of unresolved trauma suggests that it is dangerous to leave children unsupported in their efforts to master the experience of witnessing spousal abuse