[Violence during pregnancy: prevalence studies in OECD countries]

Violence during pregnancy can be associated with health consequences for both the pregnant woman und the unborn child. The available data on prevalence are insufficient in Germany, an underestimation of the problem is probable. Therefore data from other OECD countries are considered. Searching in the databases EMBASE (incl. Medline), CINAHL, PsycINFO and SSCI in English or German language, primary and secondary studies from OECD countries published from 2004 to 2011 were identified. Studies without a valid instrument were excluded. 20 studies using 6 different, partially modified instruments were identified. In OECD countries the prevalence data vary, depending on the instrument applied and the design of the studies. The majority of the studies underestimate the prevalence of violence during pregnancy. Study results from OECD countries are in the analysed range of the reviews. The data collected in Germany are at the bottom of the spectrum. This suggests an underestimation of the problem in Germany. Further research is needed using more valid instruments and better study designs.