Some studies estimate the prevalence of abuse during pregnancy to be nearly 20 percent. Specialists estimate that the rate of abuse among pregnant HIV-positive women may be even higher, particularly among young women. Abused women suffer greatly, as do their babies. Expectant mothers are at increased risk for poor weight gain, infection, bleeding, anemia and substance abuse during pregnancy compared to women who are not abused. Many abused women do not access prenatal care, and those who do more likely seek it in the third trimester, after complications may have already arisen.
Babies born to abused women are more likely to be low birth weight and premature.
They are also more likely to be abused as children. No woman deserves to be hurt. While not every woman can leave her abuser immediately, every woman can take safety measures. This should include medications, money, important papers and an extra set of clothes. Testing positive for HIV while pregnant can be overwhelming.