Abusers attack mind, not body, if wives pregnant
Men who abuse their pregnant wives are more likely to use psychological than physical violence, according to a study by the University of Hong Kong.
But the mental scars inflicted by such treatment could double the risk of post-natal depression, warned Leung Wing-cheong, a member of the research team.
In the study of 2,300 mothers-to-be carried out between May 2002 and October 2003, 5 per cent said they had been abused by their husbands during pregnancy.
Of this figure, one-third said the abuse involved physical violence, while the remainder suffered psychological abuse.
Common examples of psychological abuse included threats or insults, especially in public, which created anxiety and fear among women, said Dr Leung, of the university's department of obstetrics and gynaecology.
Fellow research team member Agnes Fung-yee Tiwari pointed out it was difficult to compare their work to previous studies as it focused specifically on the psychological abuse of pregnant women.
But Dr Tiwari said the findings did show local men were as likely to resort to physical violence as their western counterparts.
Dr Leung pointed out a study in North America found up to 20 per cent of married women had been abused, mostly in the form of physical violence.
'The mothers-to-be recruited in our study were relatively young, in their early 30s, and had been married for an average of five to seven years,' said Dr Tiwari.
'Abuse may progress to physical violence if there is no intervention at an early stage.'
Irene Ng Wai-ching, of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women, said she believed the university team had underestimated the extent of family violence in Hong Kong.
'Due to tradition, some women tolerate different forms of abuse from their husbands, even sexual abuse,' she said.
'So they may not see insults and other verbal abuses as abuse at all.' Ms Ng said it was not unusual for men to be less likely to physically abuse their wives during pregnancy to avoid harming their babies.
Dr Tiwari did not rule out the possibility some women involved in the study chose not to admit they were victims of abuse.
Two years ago, the university team developed a protocol to help women patients protect themselves from family violence.
It includes teaching victims tips like avoiding family disputes in the kitchen, where utensils could be used as weapons in the heat of the moment.
The protocol was based on an overseas model, but was modified to meet the special situation in Hong Kong.
Dr Tiwari said many victims had found the protocol effective, but she said the team would continue to modify and improve it.
The results of the HKU study will be published in an international journal on gynaecology in September.
