Utilization of police by abused pregnant Hispanic women

Three hundred twenty-nine Hispanic prenatal patients at urban public health clinics who were assessed during routine prenatal care as abused completed the Severity of Violence Against Women Scales and were asked about frequency and effectiveness of their utilization of police. Of the 23% who had used the police, 72% reported that police were very or somewhat effective. Of the women who had used police, 37% said that the violence had ended compared with 22% of the nonusers. Women who had used the police in the past 12 months had experienced more severe abuse than those women who had not. Longitudinal research is needed to determine whether increased severity precedes or follows abused women's use of the police so that the women may be counseled appropriately.