Asymptomatic bacteriuria and intimate partner violence in pregnant women

This study was undertaken to determine whether the association of intimate partner violence with urinary tract infection and pyelonephritis in pregnancy is due to a higher rate of asymptomatic bacteriuria in those suffering intimate partner violence.

Women enrolling in prenatal care had urine collected for quantitative culture (n = 342) and completed 2 scales with a computer-based survey system: The Conflict Tactics Scale for verbal and physical abuse and the Castro survey for sexual abuse.

The prevalence of verbal abuse during pregnancy was 46.9%, physical abuse, 7.6%, sexual abuse 5.8%. No significant associations were seen between quantitative culture of uropathogens and verbal, physical, or sexual abuse.

It is unlikely that the reason for the association of urinary tract infection and intimate partner violence is due to a higher number of uropathogens present in the urine of women with verbal, physical, or sexual abuse.