1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«[T]his article aims to (a) document how DV [domestic violence] manifests over the entire perinatal period, and in all its recognized forms; and (b) identify the contexts that modulate DVPP [domestic violence during the perinatal period] and its consequences for the lives of mothers and their babies.» (p. 1544)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The participants comprised 17 mothers living in the province of Québec (Canada) who were victims of DVPP. […] Three were 18–25 years old, seven were 26–35 years old, and seven were older than 36 years. Fourteen had one or two children, and two were pregnant at the time of the interview.» (p. 1545)

Instruments :
Guide d’entretien semi-directif

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse de contenu

3. Résumé

«Overall, the results corroborate prior findings […] that pregnancy is rarely a time of respite from DV, despite the hopes of many women. More specifically, the participants’ stories told how the violence can grow worse during pregnancy, from the first announcement of the pregnancy up to childbirth, which itself sets the stage for diverse acts of violence. All the participants experienced violence when they were pregnant. While the most often reported forms of violence were psychological and verbal violence in connection with parenting skills and perceptions, the participants also reported the presence of simultaneous forms of violence. In addition, control by the partner acted to limit their freedom of movement and action, isolate them from their social circle, and deprive them of financial autonomy. Moreover, several participants said that they had received death threats when they were pregnant, concurring with previous research […]. Most importantly, the narratives of the women […] highlight that violence was part of their daily lives during the perinatal period, in one form or another. Their experience is part of a dynamic of violence and control, which goes beyond the manifestation of a specific act of violence or the presence of a single form.» (p. 1556-1557)