Research reveals the consequences of violence during the perinatal period

The session entitled “Intimate Partner Violence during the Perinatal Period: Evidence and Guidelines for Practice” took place on 10 December, bringing together healthcare professionals, psychologists, social work practitioners, researchers and institutional representatives for a meeting dedicated to the presentation and discussion of a scientific study on Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The main objective of the session was to disseminate the results of the research project developed by HEI-Lab and to reflect on how these can be integrated into healthcare and social action systems.

The session opened with a presentation by Inês Jongenelen, Director of the Faculty of Psychology and Education and of the School of Psychology and Life Sciences at Lusófona University, alongside an intervention by Rosa Saavedra, representing APAV - Associação Portuguesa de Apoio à Vítima, and by Sofia Ramalho, President of the Portuguese Psychologists Association, who reflected on the relevance of this topic and study.

“This study on the impact of intimate partner violence during the perinatal period follows on from our previous research into the impact of intimate partner violence on mothers and babies,” explained lecturer Inês Jongenelen, adding that there remains “a clear gap in knowledge about violence during pregnancy and the perinatal period, as well as about its effects on very young babies”.

According to Rosa Saavedra, Intimate Partner Violence is a “somewhat invisible public reality”, because “this violence is often difficult to perceive and identify”, hence the importance of this study.

To present the study and the results obtained, in addition to Professor Inês Jongenelen, the floor was also given to lecturers Tiago Pinto, Diogo Lameira and Cátia Oliveira.

This study analysed the impact of exposure to IPV on mothers’ mental health, parenting and babies’ development in the first months of life. The project followed 706 mothers and babies at three points in time – during the third trimester, at two months and at six months after birth – with participants recruited from public hospitals, including Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, Centro Hospitalar da Póvoa de Varzim e Vila do Conde and Maternidade Alfredo da Costa, in Lisbon. Subsequent assessments were carried out at the institution’s Psychopathology & Development Lab.

The quantitative results show that IPV during the perinatal period has significant effects on women’s psychological health. Changes were observed in behaviours associated with parenting, namely parental sensitivity and the expression of affection, which are essential aspects for babies’ emotional and relational development.

The research also included a qualitative component, focused on the perceptions of healthcare and social professionals regarding the identification of and response to IPV in a perinatal context. The focus groups revealed “barriers to reporting, difficulties in coordination between services and the need for additional training”, issues that have a direct impact on the ability to detect and support women in situations of risk.

With this study, the Director of the FEP considers it “essential to integrate routine assessments of intimate partner violence into pregnancy and postnatal follow-up appointments”.

The meeting concluded with a round table in which professionals from different sectors analysed and reflected on the relevance of these results for professional practice, discussing ways to improve the detection, intervention and follow-up of families exposed to IPV. The contributions highlighted the importance of bringing research closer to the reality of services and of promoting coordinated responses capable of protecting women and fostering children’s healthy development.

Text
Bruna Pereira

Video
Lara Sousa