RESEARCH CRITIQUE

Critique of “Antenatal Domestic Violence, Maternal Mental Health and Subsequent Child Behaviour”

[Name of the Institute]

Critique of “Antenatal Domestic Violence, Maternal Mental Health and Subsequent Child Behaviour”

Introduction

The research study selected for the critique is “Antenatal Domestic Violence, Maternal Mental Health and Subsequent Child Behaviour.” This cohort study is conducted by Flach C, Leese M, Heron J, Evans J, Feder G, Sharp D, Howard LM. The main purpose of this study is to the investigation of the long term affect of domestic violence before pregnancy on the mental health of the mother and the behavior of the child afterwards. Domestic violence takes form of physical battering, sexual battering, or any other kind of abusive conduct done by the partners. This miserable activity is found in almost all communities of the world irrespective of race, religion, culture or education. Such voidances may result in material wounds, psychosomatic disturbances and depression and more severely may cause deaths. This violence cost future generations, small children and young adult adversely and affects their mental peace and emotional development as well. These problems may inherit from one generation to another (Edelson, 1999, p. 134). This paper will critique the paper and will determine whether the research has been effectively and appropriately conducted.

Backgorund of the Research Topic

The nature of domestic violence can be well described by the level of dominance and control authorized by women to their existing or former partner. It extent of power and control wheel determines the degree of abusive activities, which include physical and sexual violence. However the occurrences of these behaviours may be different from case to case (Dasgupta, 2002, p. 1271-1300). The model of power and control determined certain measurement tools of abusive activities of men towards women, which include, fear, loneliness, using advantages assigned to men, threatening and emotional trauma, restricting income, abusing children, minimisation, disowning and torturing women. These measures were considered as valid and reliable in measuring domestic violence among women by many researchers even today (Shepard, & Campbell, p. 291). It was also confirmed by the research of Dwyer in 1999 and O'Leary in 1999 (p. 3).

With respect to traumatic consequences on women and children of domestic abuse, a number of studies have been done that a person being exposed to such experience has an increased potential of suffer through a trauma. Women and children being sexually and domestically abused may experience unhealthy, distressing and hostile life events for a long time period. Women being abused during pregnancy may suffer from great depression and are discovered to be more vulnerable to these events during pregnancy (Bacchus, Bewley and Mezey, 2001, p. 249). According to a study, pregnant women being abused by their partners may adapt alcohol, suffer stress, depression and drugs and all of these activities cause potential risk to unborn infant, it causes a mother to loose interest regarding her baby's health during and after child birth. In addition, such violence can also cause psychological development of child. Study has further shown that these acts may lead ...