Risk of homicide, measured with the Danger Assessment Instrument, was examined for two time periods (pregnancy and the year before pregnancy) among 53 abused women seeking prenatal care. Twenty-three women left their relationships after becoming pregnant; these women were at higher risk for homicide prior to pregnancy than the women who remained with their abusers. Women who stayed with their abusers experienced a lower mean number of homicide risk factors during pregnancy compared with the previous year. Pregnancy may be a somewhat protective time for some women in abusive relationships and may help to motivate those at greatest risk for homicide to leave these dangerous situations.
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