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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · AJP Rep 2019; 09(01): e54-e59
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-1683407
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Assessing Adverse Childhood Experiences during Pregnancy: Evidence toward a Best Practice

Megan W. Nguyen
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina
,
Emily Heberlein
2   Georgia Health Policy Center, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
,
Sarah Covington-Kolb
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina
,
Anne M. Gerstner
3   University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina
,
Amber Gaspard
3   University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina
,
Kacey Y. Eichelberger
1   Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville/Greenville Health System, Greenville, South Carolina
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

14 June 2017

08 September 2018

Publication Date:
07 March 2019 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To quantify the prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among a diverse urban cohort of pregnant women.

Study Design The ACE survey was self-administered to 600 women categorized evenly between the waiting room, private examination rooms, and CenteringPregnancy group spaces. The percentage of women willing to complete the survey per location was compared using chi-square tests, and the mean ACE score per arm was compared using Wilcoxon's rank–sum test.

Results Of the 660 women approached for participation, 5% declined; 67% reported ≥ 1 ACE exposure and 19% reported an ACE score of ≥ 4. By domain, 59% experienced household dysfunction, 25% abuse, and 25% neglect. Women in the waiting room were more likely to decline participation (p < 0.01), and those participating in the postpartum inpatient arm had a significantly lower proportion affirming 8 of 10 ACE questions, were less likely to report ≥1 ACE, and had a lower mean ACE score when compared with the outpatient arm (p < 0.01).

Conclusion The prevalence of ACEs in this diverse pregnant cohort was high. The ideal locations to distribute the survey are the outpatient examination rooms.

Keywords

ACE - pregnancy - adverse childhood experiences - CenteringPregnancy
 

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