The silence of domestic violence in pregnancy during women's encounters with maternity and healthcare professionals.

Gill Aston.

The research discussed in this presentation will focus on one aspect of a larger doctoral study entitled "From the margins into the centre: Women's experiences of domestic violence during pregnancy". Findings indicated that practices in maternity care settings were not orientated to meeting the needs of women in the study. Women who had experienced domestic violence during pregnancy identified that trust in the midwife was a vital component of the woman-midwife relationship in order to facilitate discussion and disclosure of domestic violence. Other findings related to women's experiences and interactions with health visitors and general practitioners will be highlighted. These will show the contingencies and characteristics that enhanced positive and effective interactions between women and these healthcare professionals.

Acknowledgements: Thank you to all the women who took part in the study. Their strength was my source of inspiration.
Research Supervisor: Professor Rebecca Emerson Dobash.

Email address: gillian.aston@kcl.ac.uk