Coping Skills Used By Pregnant, Low-Income, Rural Women Facing Intimate Partner Violence in Missouri

The study will examine the coping skills of pregnant, rural, low-income women facing intimate partner violence (IPV) from pregnancy to three months post-natal. Twenty in depth interviews were conducted with women during pregnancy and three months post-natal who had experienced domestic violence. The most important finding that helped all participants cope with their abuse was the urge to protect the unborn/newborn baby. Their advice to health care professionals, as well as mothers of new born babies, is also discussed. Research, policy and practice implications for working with pregnant, rural, low-income women facing IPV are also discussed