Neuroendocrine response to violence durin pregnancy - impact on duration of pregnancy and fetal growth

•  Objective. To study the neuroendocrine release of cortisol in response   to perceived stress among pregnant women exposed to partner violence   and how this affects the duration of pregnancy and the intrauterine   growth of the infant. Design. Cross-sectional community-based study. Setting. Health and Demographic Surveillance System of Leon, Nicaragua.   Population. One-hundred and forty-seven pregnant women. Methods.  Standardized scales to measure intimate partner violence, social resources, perceived stress, and socio-economic conditions were   applied. Two salivary samples for cortisol were collected in the   morning and afternoon on the same day. Linear regression and path   analysis were used. Main outcome measures. Cortisol levels, gestational   age, and weight at delivery. Results. Partner violence during the   pregnancy, low social resources, and perceived maternal stress were associated with high level of salivary cortisol. Pregnant women with   high cortisol levels were significantly more likely to give birth to   small-for-gestational age babies, but not to deliver preterm. A substantial decrease of birthweight, 121-186 g, was associated with an  increase in cortisol in association with violence exposure. Conclusion. Partner violence during pregnancy is a stressor that provokes high  levels of cortisol, which is associated with reduction of birthweight.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Reproduktionsmedicin och gynekologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Violence

pregnancy

birthweight

small-for-gestational age

cortisol

MEDICINE

MEDICIN

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)