Homicide is the leading cause of death for American pregnant women

Homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States, according to the report published on October 19 in the BMJ. Researchers warn that homicide is a leading cause of death for pregnant women in the United States, and the risk is rising.

The researchers called it “a shocking situation linked to a lethal combination of intimate partner violence and firearms.” They concluded that stopping male violence in the country, particularly gun violence, might each year spare the lives of hundreds of pregnant women and their unborn children.

Globally, 1 in 3 women experience physical, sexual, or psychological abuse from a partner at some point in their lives.

In contrast to other high-income countries, the United States has a higher rate of lifetime and recent intimate partner violence, making the issue much worse there.

Approximately 68% of killings involving pregnancy between 2008 and 2019 included weapons. Compared to white or Hispanic women, black women had a significantly higher risk of death. According to the authors, state-level statistics on gun ownership and laws governing firearms are also related to rates of domestic homicide.

The authors noted that various legal loopholes allow access to firearms and that few people accused of intimate partner violence are ever found guilty. Additionally, they noted that given the recent erosion of reproductive rights in the United States, women might be at higher risk. Intimate relationship abuse frequently involves the control of a woman’s reproductive choices. Access restrictions to abortion may increase the dangers of abusive relationships.

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