Pediatricians are in a position to recognize abused women in pediatric settings.
Intervening on behalf of battered women is an active form of child abuse prevention. Knowledge of local resources and state laws for reporting abuse are emphasized. The abuse of women is a pediatric issue. 2 Pregnant women may be at increased risk of abuse and this abuse may cause damage to the fetus. In a study of in-home homicides in three states, a history of domestic violence was significantly correlated with increased risk of homicide committed by a family member or intimate acquaintance.