1 in 3 pregnant women experience domestic violence in S. Korea—survey

A new study reveals that more than 1 in 3 married women in South Korea has experienced domestic violence at least once while pregnant, a research group said Tuesday.

The result is based on a survey conducted by the College of Nursing at Kyungpook National University on 250 pregnant women last year, where 34 percent responded that they had experienced mental, physical or sexual abuse at least once at the hands of their husband during pregnancy.

The most common type of abuse was mental, including verbal abuse, marking 32.4 percent. That was followed by physical assaults at 8.4 percent and sexual assaults at 5.6 percent, according to the study.

Among the abused women, nine suffered injuries including bruises and fractures.

The study also seemed to indicate that domestic violence occurs more often to pregnant wives with advanced educational backgrounds.

The research team said in a study that women with high education are more likely to report domestic violence complaints, while women with a lower level of education tend to rely more on their husbands and endure the abuse.

Researchers warned that the prenatal experience of domestic violence can harm babies in the long term, addressing the importance of governmental help in preventing it.

The study was published in the November issue of the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics.