Cork hospital staff say they see pregnant victims of domestic violence every week

Ann-Marie McCarthy, Social Work Team Leader at CUMH, warned the abuse is “much more common” than people might realise, with telltale signs that hospital staff are seeing.

Those signs range from bruising to missing appointments to not speaking during appointments while partners answer any questions from staff.

“There’s lots of red flags for domestic violence. These might be unexplained admission to the hospital, somebody presenting to the emergency room repeatedly with unexplained bruising or injuries.”

Other signs include women who book in with the hospital or GP quite late during their pregnancy.

“There might be control at home. Some pregnancies might be as a result of rape, we’ve had that in the past,” she said.

“Women saying ‘I am discharging myself early, I need to get home’, or they might minimise signs of abuse — bruises and cuts.”

Overall, she warned that abuse is more likely to start or get worse in pregnancy which “is not a protective factor for domestic abuse”.

Research has also shown pregnancy and the months just after pregnancy are “a heightened time” for abuse, she said.

Help for victims

In CUMH, as in other maternity hospitals, staff meet with women during these vulnerable months and there is a chance to help them, she explained.

“Domestic abuse is a health risk,” she said.

Ms McCarthy acknowledged some external services are underfunded and the housing crisis can be a barrier to rehoming women.

However, she said: “If a woman presents to the hospital and discloses domestic violence, she will be listened to, believed and supported to the best of our ability.

“A lot of women might not realise they are experiencing abuse. There is that saying ‘you don’t need a bruise to be abused’,” she said.

“There is a stigma attached to domestic abuse, it is an underreported crime. When women are pregnant, there is just a lot of barriers to reporting and to disclosing.”

Staff took part in the global “16 Days of Activism” campaign, which ends this week, to raise awareness. This included hosting information stands in CUMH and University Hospital Kerry.

During the year, they also used social media and have “lots of literature in the hospital, and posters up around the place”, she added.

They can link women in with services including the Sexual Violence Centre in Cork.

An evaluation of a three-year domestic violence project led by Women’s Aid involving CUMH and other maternity hospitals was published last month.

Those who have been affected are encouraged to contact Women’s Aid 24 hour National Freephone Helpline on 1800 341 900.