Health care for women international
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Domestic abuse is the leading cause of injuries and death among women of childbearing age in the United States. The broad purpose of this research is to discover how pregnant women's psychological and behavioral responses to abuse affect birth outcomes. ⋯ In this article, we will review pertinent literature and discuss the supports and barriers we observed when implementing an abuse screening program using the Abuse Assessment Screen, a well-tested and valid clinical instrument. Suggestions will be made for improving the screening rates at those sites where screening is absent or inconsistent.