Physical intimate partner violence among women experiencing homelessness before and during pregnancy

Abstract Intimate partner violence (IPV) and homelessness can have devastating health consequences for pregnant women. Using the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, we assessed differences in the association of physical IPV before and/or during pregnancy with adverse health outcomes between women experiencing homelessness (WEH) and domiciled women. Among 186 891 respondents, representing an estimated 11 489 161 women, 27.1% and 3.4% of WEH and domiciled women, respectively, reported experiencing physical IPV. Physical IPV was associated with higher odds of having postpartum depression and preterm birth and lower odds of having a postpartum checkup among domiciled women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.83; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.62-2.08 for postpartum depression; aOR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.08-1.53 for preterm birth; and aOR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.49-0.64 for postpartum checkup). The differences in these outcomes between women who experienced physical IPV and those who did not were smaller among WEH, as indicated by aORs of interaction terms (aOR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58-0.94 for postpartum depression; aOR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.49-0.93 for preterm birth; and aOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.01-1.74 for postpartum checkup). Further research is needed to identify factors that may offer WEH a protective effect against the negative impacts of IPV.