Phyllis W Sharps

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• PhD, RN, FAAN
• Professor Emeritus at Johns Hopkins University

Objective Screening for intimate partner violence in the home is often challenging due to the lack of privacy. The aim of this study was to compare two different screening methods (paper‐pencil vs. tablet) for identifying intimate partner violence during perinatal home visits. Design Randomized control trial. Sample Pregnant women (N = 416) in pe...

Poly-victimization is often reported by formerly incarcerated women and leads to physical and mental health problems that interfere with daily functioning, sustained employment, and housing stability. Although reentry programs exist, few focus on the physical and emotional impact of multiple traumas. Passport to Freedom (P2F), a woman-centered, tra...

Women in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) experience intimate partner violence (IPV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) at disproportionate rates compared to women on the US mainland. Women in violent relationships report experiencing controlling behaviours that decrease their ability to negotiate for sex using condoms or to prevent unwanted pregna...

PurposeExposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) has been associated with adverse infant developmental outcomes; however, the influence of the number of father-figures (abusive vs non-abusive) has on young infants’ risk for neurodevelopmental delays has not been examined.ProceduresA secondary data analysis was conducted from the Domestic Violence...

There is increasing evidence that green space in communities reduces the risk of aggression and violence, and increases wellbeing. Positive associations between green space and resilience have been found among children, older adults and university students in the United States, China and Bulgaria. Little is known about these associations among pred...

As ecosystems that support human health, societies, and civilization change in the era of the Anthropocene, individuals with disproportionate balance of salivary hormones may be at greatest risk of morbidity and mortality. Vulnerable communities, in particular, are overburdened by inequities in features of built environments linked to health dispar...

This study described the frequency of different adverse childhood experience (ACE) types described by women with recent IPV and examined the effects of each ACE type on women’s mental health. Over 70% of women reported parental separation or divorce, over 40% reported childhood sexual assault, and around 40% had a mother who was treated violently....

Background In the United States, rates of maternal morbidity and mortality (MMM) are high compared with other high-income countries and are characterized by significant racial/ethnic disparities. Typically, research on MMM focuses on obstetrical problems. Less research examines the role of intimate partner violence (IPV). Maternal health, IPV, and...

About the Book The experientially-based narratives in Disparities in the Academy: Accounting for the Elephant center on the importance of addressing inequities associated with sexism, racism, and their intersectionalities, which blatantly thrive in academia today. The authors’ recommended actions will facilitate the success and quality of professio...

Although the full and lasting impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is yet to be determined, there is evidence that sex and gender play a significant role in determining patient outcomes across the globe. This roundtable discussion is a transcript of a seminar held by several representatives from Johns Hopkins University on the...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects 1 in 3 US women with the effects of IPV detectable for several generations. While IPV is known to have significant impacts on maternal-child outcomes, little is known about the mother's perspectives of the interplay between perinatal IPV exposure, parenting styles, and safety strategies. Methods...

Sexually transmitted infections (STI), including HIV infection, and intimate partner violence (IPV) are major public health problems that occur at high rates among African American women compared to women from other ethnic and racial groups. Using a syndemic framework, the objectives of this paper are to discuss the intersecting and synergistic eff...

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: To examine maternal morbidity and its related social determinants among women experiencing homelessness during pregnancy. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study will use an exploratory sequential mixed method design to explore and examine the structural, interpersonal and individual factors contributing to maternal morbidity...

The Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation (DOVE) intervention used in the Perinatal Nurse Home Visiting Intervention Enhanced With mHealth Technology (RCT: R01HD071771) is a nurse-lead evidenced-based intervention that has been shown to decrease violence overtime. This summative mixed-methods impact evaluation is intended to provide insight to...

line associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) is the most common hospital-acquired infection among pediatric patients resulting in excess mortality, increased hospitalization stay and increased health care costs. Prevention and control of CLABSI depends greatly on awareness and implementation of evidence based procedures. The purpose of this stud...

Aim: The aim of this study was to understand the social context of the lives of women who experienced a head injury from intimate partner violence. Background: Sixty percent to 92% of survivors of intimate partner violence receive head trauma during the abuse. Little research exists regarding the episodes of abuse when women receive a head injur...

There is increasing evidence that women are receiving a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during episodes of intimate partner violence (IPV), but little qualitative research exists around how surviving this experience impacts the lives of women. Primary and secondary data (N = 19) were used with a constructivist grounded theory approach to explore the l...

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: This case-control study aims to determine the relationships among childhood adversity, attachment style, and the likelihood of accepting or declining a referral for HV. The study will serve as a pilot to inform the power analysis of a subsequently proposed full-scale study. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Using a case-control st...

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: The purpose of this study is to understand factors that are associated with identifying which eligible pregnant women in Baltimore City accept a referral for HV services. Taking into account demographic and obstetrical variables, we will examine the extent to which 13 medical and 14 psychosocial risk factors differentiate...

Aim: To describe the physical, psychological and sexual violence among internally displaced adolescent girls following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and related risk factors, health concerns and cultural norms. Background: Thousands of adolescents were displaced following the earthquake, leaving them vulnerable to abuse and violence. Displaced survi...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is common during pregnancy and the postpartum. Perinatal home visitation provides favorable conditions in which to identify and support women affected by IPV. However, the use of mHealth for delivering IPV interventions in perinatal home visiting has not been explored. Objective: Our objective was to c...

Introduction: This article presents an integrative review of the literature examining the relationship between racial discrimination and adverse birth outcomes. Methods: Searches for research studies published from 2009 to 2015 were conducted using PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycINFO, Web of Science, and Embase. Articles were assessed for potential...

Women experiencing perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) may be at increased risk for depression. Baseline data was analyzed from 239 low-income pregnant women participating in an intervention study designed to reduce exposure to IPV. Depression risk was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and IPV factors were measure...

Objectives This longitudinal study examined the influence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) experience of pregnant women participating in the Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation Program on the language and neurological development of infants and toddlers. Methods A total of 210 infants and toddlers born to women reporting low, moderate, and...

Women exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of lifetime trauma may be at risk for negative mental health outcomes including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purpose of this study was to examine potential predictors of PTSD among low-income women exposed to perinatal IPV. This study analyzed baseline cross-sectional dat...

This study explored women’s experiences of being screened for intimate partner violence and receiving an intervention during perinatal home visits in urban and rural settings in the USA. Twenty-six women were recruited from the DOVE (Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visit) intervention trial to participate in a nested qualitative interpretive study....

Background: Perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) is common and has significant negative health outcomes for mothers and infants. This study evaluated the effectiveness of an IPV intervention in reducing violence among abused women in perinatal home visiting programs. Materials and methods: This assessor-blinded multisite randomized control...

Dating violence is a serious and prevalent public health problem that is associated with numerous negative physical and psychological health outcomes, and yet there has been limited evaluation of prevention programs on college campuses. A recent innovation in campus prevention focuses on mobilizing bystanders to take action. To date, bystander prog...

This qualitative study of 10 rural women examines their lived experience of intimate partner violence during pregnancy through postpartum year two. In-depth interviews were conducted during pregnancy and at 3, 6, 12 and 24 months postpartum. A Heideggerian approach to analysis revealed “negotiating peril” as the overarching theme in their experienc...

The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the validity of a single-item, self-rated mental health (SRMH) measure in the identification of women at risk for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Baseline data of 239 low-income women participating in an intimate partner violence (IPV) intervention study were analyzed. PTSD was m...

The forces of globalization have shifted the way that healthcare is delivered and also how the global nursing workforce is conceptualized.1,2 Globally, the demand for healthcare is increasing, outpacing the growth in the workforce, primarily because of population growth, the aging population, and the increasing burden of noncommunicable diseases.3...

This study aimed to determine gender and race variations in regards to the influence of religious involvement (RI) as a moderator of the effects of early traumatic stress (ETS) on health-related quality of life among adult survivors of child abuse. A cross-sectional predictive design was used to study Seventh-day Adventist adults in North America (...

Importance: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is associated with adverse health outcomes for mothers and infants. There are few evidence-based interventions available for reducing IPV. Objective: To determine the effectiveness of an IPV intervention in reducing violence among abused women enrolled in perinatal home visiting program...

Background Pregnancy and the postpartum is a time of increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Pre and postnatal home visitation provide an opportunity for preventive and early intervention. Little is known about the best methods for identifying and supporting abused women in home settings that maintains privacy, is sensitive, and accura...

This study examined male adolescents’ self-report of rape of adolescent girls and the socio-demographic variables that correlated with self-report of rape. Descriptive-correlational design was used and the study was conducted in five public senior secondary schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Three hundred and thirty-eight male adolescents participated in...

A subsample of 12 African American women (6 urban and 6 rural) were selected from a larger longitudinal, randomized control trial, Domestic Violence Enhanced Home Visitation (DOVE-R01 900903 National Institute of Nursing Research [NINR]/National Institutes of Health [NIH]). All African American women were chosen to control for any racial- and/or ra...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) affects an estimated 1.5 million U.S. women annually. IPV impacts maternal and neonatal health with higher rates of depression and low birth weight (LBW). Less studied is experiencing IPV and delivering a small for gestational age (SGA) baby. SGA neonates are at increased risk of developmental and behavi...

Background Pregnancy and the postpartum may be a time of increased risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). Pre and postnatal home visitation provide an opportunity for preventive and early intervention. Little is known about the best methods for identifying and supporting abused women in home settings that maintains privacy, is sensitive, and a...

Abstract The effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on maternal and neonatal outcomes are multifaceted and largely preventable. During pregnancy, there are many opportunities within the current health care system for screening and early intervention during routine prenatal care or during episodic care in a hospital setting. This article describ...

We examined associations between intimate partner forced sex (IPFS) and HIV sexual risk behaviors among physically abused Black women. Women aged 18-55 in intimate relationships were interviewed in health clinics in Baltimore, MD and St. Thomas and St. Croix, US Virgin Islands (USVI). Of 426 physically abused women, 38 % experienced IPFS; (Baltimor...

Background: Women of African descent are disproportionately affected by intimate partner abuse; yet, limited data exist on whether the prevalence varies for women of African descent in the United States and those in the US territories. Objective: In this multisite study, we estimated lifetime and 2-year prevalence of physical, sexual, and psycho...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy affects 0.9% to 17% of women and affects maternal health significantly. The impact of IPV extends to the health of children, including an increased risk of complications during pregnancy and the neonatal period, mental health problems, and cognitive delays. Despite substantial sequelae, there is limi...

Objective: To assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence, substance use, and their co-occurrence during pregnancy and to examine their associations with adverse neonatal outcomes. Study design: Between February 2009-February 2010, pregnant women receiving obstetrical care at 3 urban clinics were screened for intimate partner violence and...

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent among adolescent and adult women, with significant physical, sexual, and mental health consequences. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine's Clinical Preventive Services for Women consensus report recommended universal screening for violence as a component of women's preventive services; this p...

The current study explored the views of women experiencing interpersonal violence (IPV) and their relationship with their mothers or other supportive adult, and determines how this relationship affected perinatal depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 30 urban and rural pregnant women enrolled in a larger ongoing randomized controlled trial....

Background: IPV during pregnancy affects 9% to 17% of women in the US. The impact of IPV extends to health consequences for the neonate with a demonstrated direct association between the mother's violence experience and low birth weight and preterm birth (PB). Less is known about the association between maternal exposure to IPV and the risk for hav...

To examine and describe the influence of maternal depressive symptoms on maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) in predominantly low-income women. Mixed method. Three urban obstetric/gynecologic (OB/GYN) clinics serving predominantly low-income women. A convenience sample of 166 women participated in the quantitative component and a purposeful subsample o...

This qualitative study examined the experiences of HIV-positive African-American and African Caribbean childbearing women related to decisions about HIV testing, status disclosure, adhering to treatment, decisions about childbearing, and experiences in violent intimate relationships. Twenty-three women completed a 60-minute in-depth interview. Six...

Maternal-fetal attachment (MFA) has been associated with health practices during pregnancy, but less is known about this relationship in low-income women, and no identified studies have examined this relationship to neonatal outcomes. This longitudinal descriptive study was conducted to examine the relationships among MFA, health practices during p...

Background: IPV during pregnancy affects .9% to 17% of U.S. women and significantly impacts maternal mental health and neonatal health with higher rates of low birth weight and preterm birth. Gaps in the literature remain concerning relationships between maternal mental health, IPV, and adverse neonatal outcomes. This mixed-methods study is one of...

Postpartum Depression (PPD) has been shown to increase irritability, fatigue, and have negative effects on the attachment between the mother and newborn. The purpose of this study was to 1) examine differences in PPD prevalence across sociodemographic characteristics; 2) examine social support, education, and recent traumatic events as predictors o...

Background: About one in four women in the United States reports intimate partner violence ( IPV) at some point in their lifetime, and about 3.3 to 17.8 million children experience IPV yearly. While many studies have been conducted on the effects of IPV on maternal health and wellbeing, not much is known about how maternal IPV exposure may affect i...

We conducted 32 in-depth interviews with 20 rural, low-income, women residing in the United States who were pregnant (n = 12) or 3 months postpartum (n = 8) and had experienced intimate partner violence (IPV). Using purposive sampling and the grounded theory method, we generated a conceptual model of coping. The urge to protect the unborn baby was...

Based on research conducted during a large-scale European Commission project on international perspectives on positive/affirmative action measures, the authors provide a comparative analysis of the legal context and perceptions of the impact of positive action in the United Kingdom and the United States. The study adopted participatory methods incl...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is prevalent during pregnancy, occurring in 3-19% of pregnancies. IPV during pregnancy is associated with serious health problems for both women and infants, including maternal depression. IPV consequences are further impacted by proximity to resources and social support. This study examines baseline mental health sc...

Aims: To demonstrate the effect of the relationship that abused women have with their mothers. Methods: A mixed methods analysis of data from an on-going RCT (DOVE 5RO1NR0090930) will be presented for a sub-sample of 30 women. Perinatal women were screened three times for intimate partner violence (IPV) with psychometrically appropriate instrument...

The mental health consequences of living with intimate partner violence (IPV) are substantial. Despite the growing awareness of the incidence of depression and PTSD in women experiencing IPV, few studies have examined prospectively the experience of IPV during pregnancy and the impact of the abuse on women's mental health. As a component of a large...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among rural, low-income, pregnant women is of serious concern given its prevalence and adverse mental and physical health consequences (Bailey & Daugherty, 2007; Logan, Walker, Cole, Ratliff, & Leukefeld, 2003). Lack of accessibility to resources and services in rural areas exacerbates their situations (Websdale, 199...

Background: No systematic studies addressing intimate partner violence (IPV) in the US Virgin Islands (US-VI) exist, although service organizations note that IPV is highly prevalent and stigmatized. Studies have shown that audio computer- assisted self-interviews (ACASI) are effective in limiting response bias on sensitive information such as IPV a...

The purpose of this study was to assess whether providing a breastfeeding support team results in higher breastfeeding rates at 6, 12, and 24 weeks postpartum among urban low-income mothers. Design: A randomized controlled trial with mother-infant dyads recruited from 2 urban hospitals. Participants: Breastfeeding mothers of full-term infants who w...

A strengths or resilience framework can be helpful in explaining the responses of women and children to intimate partner violence (IPV) and designing interventions for them. Considerable research documents that abused women display impressive strengths, including that the majority eventually leave the abusive relationships and/or make the violence...

Pregnant women involved in violent relationships represent a population that is vulnerable for poor pregnancy and infant outcomes on several levels. This article describes the development of a "town and gown" partnership to assist pregnant women in violent relationships. Barriers and facilitating factors for research and home visitor (HV) nurse par...

To describe current evidence on home visiting interventions for pregnant or postpartum women with specific intimate partner violence assessment and content. Online bibliographic databases including PubMed, CINAHL Plus, and Web of Science and a hand search of bibliographies of relevant articles. Original research and intervention studies were includ...

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that occurs after a traumatic event and has been linked to psychiatric and physical health declines. Rates of PTSD are far higher in individuals with low incomes and who reside in urban areas compared to the general population. In this study, 250 urban health care-seeking women were interv...

African American women are at increased risk for poor pregnancy outcomes compared to other racial-ethnic groups. Single or multiple psychosocial and behavioral factors may contribute to this risk. Most interventions focus on singular risks. This paper describes the design, implementation, challenges faced, and acceptability of a behavioral counseli...

This paper examined cultural context influencing response to intimate partner violence (IPV). The authors included five African Americans investigators who provided in-depth analyses of four major studies of IPV. The studies, conducted by the authors over the past 20 years, each included samples of primarily poor African American women and used qua...

The purpose of this study was to examine non-fatal strangulation by an intimate partner as a risk factor for major assault, or attempted or completed homicide of women. A case control design was used to describe non-fatal strangulation among complete homicides and attempted homicides (n = 506) and abused controls (n = 427). Interviews of proxy resp...

This study investigated the relationship between dangerousness in intimate partner relationships and victims' mental health and/or health behavior problems. Health records of 387 women residents in a domestic violence shelter in an urban city on the East coast were reviewed. Of these, 177 women were eligible for this study. Dangerousness was determ...

Current rates of intimate partner homicide of females are approximately 4 to 5 times the rate for male victims, although the rates for both have decreased during the past 25 years. The major risk factor for intimate partner homicide, no matter if a female or male partner is killed, is prior domestic violence. This review presents and critiques the...

Intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a significant public health problem with negative physical and mental health consequences. Pregnant women are not immune to IPV, and as many as 4% to 8% of all pregnant women are victims of partner violence. Among pregnant women, IPV has been associated with poor physical health outcomes such as incr...

This article reports qualitative findings of seven focus groups that illuminate the phenomenon of dating and dating violence from the perspective of the young adolescent. This study was part of a larger intervention project, “An Arts-Based Initiative for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls,” a collaboration of the Centers for Disease...

Research has changed the conceptualization of the causes and consequences of violence. Yet some questions remain unanswered. Infants and young children have largely been overlooked, and intraethnic and cultural group variations have not been addressed. There is still a need to address macro-level systematic discrimination in the health care system...

This article reports qualitative findings of seven focus groups that illuminate the phenomenon of dating and dating violence from the perspective of the young adolescent. This study was part of a larger intervention project, "An Arts-Based Initiative for the Prevention of Violence Against Women and Girls," a collaboration of the Centers for Disease...

Abuse during pregnancy has increasingly been identified as an important problem with significant consequences for maternal and infant health, particularly in North America. The authors review available evidence of the prevalence and consequences of abuse during pregnancy, including maternal mortality, outside of North America. The range of prevalen...

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare the knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and health practices related to menopausal health among African-American women (N= 106) from diverse SES levels, between 40 to 65 years of age. The mean age was 49 years of age, 60.7% were college graduates, 45.8% were married, 85% employed full-time and 88%...

To examine in-depth the lives of women whose partners attempted to kill them, and to identify patterns that may aid in the clinician's ability to predict, prevent, or counsel about femicide or attempted femicide. Qualitative analysis of 30 in-depth interviews. Six U.S. cities. Thirty women, aged 17-54 years, who survived an attempted homicide by an...

To describe breastfeeding initiation among 210 urban African-American mothers with inadequate prenatal care. This study is a case-control study of postpartum mothers recruited from four large urban hospitals. Mothers who chose to breastfeed were more educated, employed before birth, married, and using contraception postnatally. Regression model ana...

This 11-city study sought to identify risk factors for femicide in abusive relationships. Proxies of 220 intimate partner femicide victims identified from police or medical examiner records were interviewed, along with 343 abused control women. Preincident risk factors associated in multivariate analyses with increased risk of intimate partner femi...

To determine if a community-based intervention program focusing on parenting education will have an impact on preventive health care utilization behaviors among low-income, minority mothers in Washington, DC. The experimental design was a randomized, controlled study in which 286 mother-infant dyads were assigned to either the standard social servi...

Intimate partner violence has been demonstrated to be a significant public health problem among African American women. This study provided an opportunity to examine prevalence of intimate partner violence and health consequences among a group of primarily middle-class, employed African American women enrolled in a privately insured HMO (n = 109 ab...