Violence may be transmitted across generations. For example, it may be transmitted from maternal victims of intimate partner violence or victims of childhood maltreatment to infants. The prevention of intergenerational transmission of violence should be a high-priority health issue in the perinatal period.
Dr. Sachiko Kita’s presentation at the 42nd Annual Conference of the Japan Academy of Nursing Science was based on a study that aimed to clarify how poly-victimizations of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and childhood maltreatment can affect maternal perpetration of child maltreatment at one month postnatal.
The results of this study demonstrated that poly-victimizations of intimate partner violence
during pregnancy and childhood maltreatment exercised a more substantial impact on maternal–child maltreatment, particularly overall and psychological maternal–child maltreatment, at one month postnatal than a single episode of victimization of intimate partner violence and childhood maltreatment.
“The results of this study highlight the importance of individuating pregnant women with poly-victimizations of intimate partner violence and childhood maltreatment to provide them with intensive psychosocial and parenting support to prevent maternal-infant maltreatment after childbirth,” said Dr. Kita.
