Addressing familial violence and child abuse

Experiences of domestic violence and child abuse are common among women with perinatal mental disorders. Women’s experience of violence and abuse is shown to be associated with adverse obstetric and perinatal mental health outcomes, impaired mother-infant bonding and subsequent behavioural problems in children. In this chapter, we begin by reviewing evidence on the nature, extent and impact of child abuse and domestic violence among perinatal women with mental disorders and their children before discussing how perinatal mental health services can appropriately address and support women and children affected by violence and abuse.