Most pregnant women subjected to domestic violence said that fear, shame and concern about having children taken away stopped them from asking maternity staff for help, a new report found.

 

A partnership between Women’s Aid and four leading maternity hospitals has increased practical support to pregnant victims of domestic abuse, improved understanding of coercive control among maternity staff and created disclosure friendly environments in maternity hospitals and units across the country.

 

The three-and-a-half-year pilot maternity project developed and delivered specialist training to nearly 350 maternity care staff and regular hospital-based awareness campaigns around the country.

 

A one-to-one support service in the three Dublin maternity hospitals was established and provided ‘same day’ support on referral to 379 victims of domestic abuse.

 

As part of the independent evaluation of the project, a survey of pregnant victims of domestic violence found that most listed fear, shame and concern about having children taken away as reasons they did not ask maternity staff for help. Most women were in favour of regular screening for domestic abuse during a woman’s journey throughout pregnancy.

 

The project demonstrated potential for improving maternity services response to domestic violence and abuse. Evaluation of the project indicate that it has had a positive effect on awareness of domestic violence for staff and women accessing maternity care, increased staff preparedness and confidence to ask and respond to disclosures and improved the speed and type of support provided to women referred to Women’s Aid for assistance.

 

The project is a collaboration between Women’s Aid, the Rotunda, the National Maternity Hospital, the Coombe Hospital and Cork University Maternity Hospital that has increased support to pregnant victims of domestic abuse, increased understanding of coercive control among maternity staff and created safe, disclosure friendly environments in maternity hospitals and units across the country.

 

Sarah Benson, CEO, Women’s Aid, said: “Regular, ongoing healthcare appointments in pregnancy not only offer multiple opportunities for disclosure and space to build trusting relationships, but also provide a situation where women can access services without arousing suspicion from an abusive partner.”

 

Support for female victims of domestic abuse is available at womensaid.ie or 1800 341 900 and at the male advice line on 1800 816 588.