Delay in prenatal care as a result of battering in pregnancy: cross-cultural implications

White American, Hispanic, and African American women were surveyed in public health and low-income clinics in Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington, to determine if they delayed seeking prenatal care because of battering during their pregnancies. Nursing staff in the clinics attempted to enroll in the study all pregnant women from these groups who presented themselves for care; no other criteria were used, other than the ability to read either English or Spanish. Results were obtained from 162 White Americans, 208 Hispanics, and 132 African Americans. Although the incidence of abuse was not significantly different among the ethnic groups, battered women sought prenatal care 6.5 weeks later than the nonabused sample, with a similar delay in each ethnic group. Twenty-one percent of the women reported physical harm during the pregnancy, and 13.7% stated that they had delayed care because of injuries.