Pregnant Women Not Reporting Domestic Violence Over Fears Their Children Will Be Taken Away

Thursday, 7 November 2024 10:16

By Martin Osborne

In Kildare, 2,164 cases of domestic abuse were reported last year, with 620 cases reported in the first quarter of this year.

Many pregnant women keep quiet about domestic violence and abuse (DVA) because they're afraid their children may be taken away.

A pioneering partnership between Women's Aid and four leading maternity hospitals has spent three-and-a-half years building a system of one-to-one support for mothers under pressure.

According to a study published as part of the partnership, "women called for improved understanding of coercive control and the behaviours that constitute domestic abuse. They recommended that staff in maternity services be trained to ask questions about DVA that relate to controlling relationships, and to recognise signs of psychological abuse."

In Kildare, 2,164 cases of domestic abuse were reported last year, with 620 cases reported in the first quarter of this year.

________________________________________________________________________________________

https://www.womensaid.ie/about-us/contact-us/

https://www.mensaid.ie/

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