Homicide is a top cause of death for pregnant women in the U.S. Black women are at higher risk

By Angela Lindsay

Of all the concerns a pregnant woman may face as she navigates the months leading up to her child’s birth, violence at the hands of a domestic partner is one that is alarmingly on the rise.

According to a study published last October in the medical journal “Obstetrics & Gynecology,” homicide was the leading cause of death for pregnant and postpartum women in the U.S. in 2018 and 2019. The Tulane University researchers who wrote the study found that U.S. women who are pregnant or were pregnant in the past 42 days (the post-partum period) die by homicide at more than twice the rate of the leading causes of pregnancy-related deaths such as bleeding or placental disorders.

Researchers have concluded that this increase in homicide deaths among pregnant and recently pregnant women is due, in large part, to violence by intimate partners, a Johns Hopkins School of Nursing scientist, Phyllis Sharps told the science journal “Nature” last November.

Pregnant and postpartum Black women and young women and girls between 10 to 24, are at the greatest risk of being killed, according to 2018-2019 data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The Tulane University researchers found that pregnant and postpartum Black women in the U.S. have an almost three times higher risk of dying by homicide than women who are not pregnant — the highest increase reported among any racial or ethnic group.

Aaron Kivisto, clinical psychologist at the University of Indianapolis and lead author of a study on Black women and partner violence in the “Journal of Interpersonal Violence,” last year, said his team “found that pregnant Black women were eight times more likely to be killed by their intimate partner than non-pregnant Black women.”

Karen Parker, executive director of Safe Alliance, said, “Violence may begin or escalate during pregnancy, and survivors have shared anecdotal reasons they think the violence has occurred or increased.” She added, “We often hear that perpetrators express frustration over supporting a first or another baby or are stressed over an unplanned pregnancy. Also, some abusers become jealous when a pregnant partner receives increased attention from others (family, friends, medical providers) or they sense they are losing control over their partner because of the pregnancy.”

This story is an all-too familiar one for Ashaki Ali, a local intimate partner violence (IPV) survivor and a member of the Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau.

“Personally, I experienced physical abuse while pregnant and it was all about my partner wanting absolute power. I felt the situation becoming violent and attempted to leave,” Ali said. “So, he attacked me, choking me into submission.”

Bea Cote, founder and executive director of IMPACT LLC and Step Up To Family Safety, says other reasons for the violence may include loss of power to make decisions, jealousy (fear that the mother will focus more on the child and less on him), being thrown into a commitment he didn’t want and exposing the relationship, particularly if it was an extramarital or secret affair.

Many pregnant women seek help through Safe Alliance’s programs, and approximately 70 percent of the people they serve are women of color, Parker said. Even if the abuse doesn’t result in homicide, it can produce devastating and long-lasting consequences.

“Intimate partner violence is a risk factor for miscarriage … and all forms of intimate partner violence contribute to a myriad of medical problems, including exacerbation of underlying chronic diseases and mental illness, such as PTSD, anxiety and depression,” explained Dr. Jessica Salzman, an emergency medicine specialist at Atrium Health-Carolinas Medical Center.

What makes matters worse is the fact that Black women are less likely to trust law enforcement and other institutions, such as medical and mental health facilities, social services and the court system. This is due to the history of violence, oppression and inequity that has been committed against black and brown bodies through such institutions, according to Elyse Hamilton-Childres, prevention and intervention services director at Mecklenburg County Community Support Services.

There are several local services available for both emergency and longer-term needs. Women in immediate danger should call the police, since they can intervene and arrest a perpetrator, and also help survivors and their children get to a hospital, shelter or another safe place, said Parker.

“Otherwise, a good first step is to call the Greater Charlotte Hope Line — 980-771-HOPE (4673),” Parker added. Advocates are available 24/7 to listen and offer resource information and referrals to organizations that can help with shelter and housing, legal issues, trauma counseling and other types of support. Most resources are confidential and available free of charge, she said.

Mecklenburg County Community Support Services offers free domestic violence counseling for adult survivors and children impacted by domestic violence. The organization also offers a state-certified domestic violence intervention program, New Options for Violent Actions, to help abusive partners understand domestic violence and replace harmful behaviors with healthy behaviors, said Hamilton-Childres. In addition, local law enforcement and victim service providers partner to implement the Lethality Assessment Protocol LAP countywide which facilitates conversation between law enforcement and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) victims about the victim’s level of risk and matches them with victim advocates.

Shawnice Stratford, a local IPV survivor and also a member of the Domestic Violence Speakers Bureau, provides this encouragement: “It may not look or feel like you have many options, but God didn’t bring you this far to abandon you now. Seek help and resources. I believe that freedom is worth fighting for. Yes, you could die trying to escape, but you can also die at the hands of your partner. Ultimately the choice is yours to make.”

To contact Safe Alliance, visit www.safealliance.org/. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, call 911. For immediate assistance regarding domestic violence, sexual assault or parenting issues, call the 24/7 Greater Charlotte Hope Line at 980-771-4673.