Marcelo Urquia, a scientist at St. Michael's hospital in Toronto conducted a study showing that women living in common-law arrangements were twice as likely as married women to experience either violence from their partners, substance abuse or depression post-childbirth. The study also showed that single, never-married women were more than three times as likely to experience at least one of these outcomes. The scientist compiled statistics showing that with women experiencing these outcomes, only 10.6 per cent of married women reported it, and 35 per cent of single, never married women has experienced one or more of the three issues. The worst result came from women who had separated or divorced during the 12 months before giving birth reporting that 67 per cent have experienced one or more of the three outcomes. Urquia says that this is information that doctors should take into account. He explains that "when a woman goes for her first prenatal visit, it is probably important to know whether this woman is married, co-habiting or single," and "if those questions aren't asked there is probably a missed opportunity to intervene and provide support and counselling."
This relates to our Law 12 class because we've just learned about marriage and divorce.
http://bcc.rcav.org/canadian/2276-marriage-better-for-womens-health
