Among pregnant individuals experiencing intimate partner violence, which prenatal care pattern is more likely?

• A. Miss 1-2 prenatal care appointments
• B. Miss 3 or more prenatal care appointments
• C. Miss none of the prenatal care appointments
• D. Miss all prenatal care appointments

Answer: (B)

Intimate partner violence disrupts a pregnant person’s ability to attend prenatal care, creating safety and access barriers that lead to missed appointments. When abuse and controlling behaviors are present, factors like safety concerns, transportation difficulties, financial dependence, and fear of disclosure can cause repeated skipping of visits. Among the patterns listed, missing three or more prenatal care appointments best reflects sustained barriers to care associated with IPV, more so than missing none (no barriers), missing one or two (less consistent with ongoing disruption), or missing all (extreme avoidance). This pattern signals the need for careful screening, safety planning, and connection to supportive resources.