Discussion Post #4

How has the USA risen to the top international to decrease abuse amongst pregnant

women?

Violence against pregnant women in the US is manifested by physical, sexual, or

emotional abuse as well as controlling their behaviors. Most studies on violence on intimate

partner violence during pregnancy is measured on the physical violence during pregnancy,

although these studies consider sexual and emotional abuse during pregnancy to be detrimental

for women’s and their children’s wellbeing. A concerning form of physical violence during

pregnancy is when abusive partners target the woman’s abdomen, which in most cases not only

hurt the women but also can cause harm to the pregnancy (Methodological Innovations in

Research on Violence Against Women: A Special Issue of Violence Against Women, 2009).

Violence against pregnant women in the USA is considered as a major public health and

human rights concern. In recent years, the US has been able to rise to the top to limit abusive

cases amongst pregnant women. In order to understand how the US has been able to combat

violence against pregnant women, it is important to first understand how domestic violence

against pregnant women (Potera, 2014). Violence against pregnant women is a significant issue

in all social strata of the world, let alone the USA. Pregnancy is a stage that marks the life of a

woman and it is considered to be a critical experience (Methodological Innovations in Research

on Violence Against Women: A Special Issue of Violence Against Women, 2009). It is in this

stage that a path of expectations, doubts, and endless emotions starts to emerge, with

physiological and psychological changes takes place the most.

The US is combating domestic violence against pregnant women using different strategies. One

of the strategies that has enabled the US to be on top of domestic violence against pregnant

women is the enactment of laws on domestic violence and this includes preventive measures and

remedial measures to eradicate violence against women within its borders (Methodological

Innovations in Research on Violence Against Women: A Special Issue of Violence Against

Women, 2009). Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is an act that funds a wide variety of

important programs and victim services that aim to address domestic violence, including

violence against pregnant women. Congress has been able to bring together a significant team of

research through hearings, testimony, and reports on violence against women and its social

effects in the US. VAWA also provides funds that train police, prosecutors, and advocates that

fight violence against both women and pregnant women. This strategy is one of the effective

methods that the US government has been able to use to put the country on top of the fight

against violence against pregnant women (Potera, 2014). VAWA also criminalizes certain acts of

domestic violence that cross state lines, making the laws federal. This means that it requires

states, territories, and Native American tribes to provide full faith and credit to protect the orders

that have been made by other states, territories, and tribes. In addition to this, VAWA also

provide immigration relief to victims who are immigrants and aim to prevent discrimination

against pregnant women (Potera, 2014). It is important to note that these victims live in certain

types of federally funded housing.

 References

Violence Against Women, 2009. Methodological Innovations in Research on Violence Against

Women: A Special Issue of Violence Against Women. 15(10), pp.1263-1264.

Potera, C., 2014. The VAWA Makes American Indian Women Safer. AJN, American Journal of

Nursing, 114(5), p.20.