In today's health matters, pregnant women who are assaulted are at an increased risk having low birth weight infants.

The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, analyzed data on more than five million pregnant women over a ten year period.

The results show a pattern of low birth weight newborns among assault victims. These infants weighed on average a third of a pound less than others.

Assaults in the first trimester were associated with the largest decrease in birth weight. The authors note while their findings provided a link between the assault victims and low birth weight, they did not prove violence causes reduced birth weights.

Findings were published online in the 'Journal of Human Resources.'