The Consequences of Violence During Pregnancy for Both Fetus and Newborn: Systematic Review

Objective: The study's goal has been to identify studies addressing the effects of violence against women during pregnancy to both the fetus and newborn. Methods: The survey was performed in both MEDLINE and LILACS databases. There were included analytical studies, published in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Results: There were included 27 studies. According to the analyzed data, violence during pregnancy is a risk to the intrauterine growth and may cause the following issues: intrauterine growth restriction; being born small according to the gestational age; and higher plasma levels of glutamate, GABA and cortisol. It was consensus among the studies that there is a risk of fetal and neonatal death among women who experienced the phenomenon of violence during pregnancy. Conclusions: Violence during pregnancy is a very important issue in the public health matter. The findings emphasize the significance of initiating the prenatal care as soon as possible, since it is an important stepping-stone to tracking down the occurrence of violence.