Domestic Violence.

Domestic and family violence is a serious public health and social issue that significantly impacts substantial numbers of women and children in Australia. It involves behaviour where one person in a relationship hurts or threatens the other, their children or pets and denies choice and freedoms, often in an ongoing repeated manner to control.

Domestic violence can include both physical and sexual abuse as well as financial, emotional, social and reproductive abuse. Research shows that women who experience intimate partner violence during pregnancy are at significant risk of poor perinatal mental health outcomes with depression, anxiety and PTSD significantly associated with domestic violence (AIFS). Adverse pregnancy outcomes are also prevalent in exposure to domestic violence with an increased risk of pre-term birth, physical injury to mother and baby, low birth weight and miscarriage.

It is important for women that feel they may be experiencing domestic or family violence during their pregnancy, or at any time, to seek help safely to keep themselves, their children and their growing baby safe.