Intimate partner violence in pregnancy among antenatal attendees at health facilities in West Pokot county, Kenya

Violence against women is a global pandemic, with the potential to spread through generations. Intimate partner violence has impacts on women’s sexual, reproductive, and psycho-social health. It can occur during pregnancy and adversely affect the health of both mother and child. Health care workers involved in antenatal care can have a unique role in identifying intimate partner violence and in intervening, preventing, and mitigating its consequences. In this study, the objective was to explore Ethiopian health care workers’ insights of and responses to intimate partner violence in pregnancy. Using an exploratory design, this qualitative study includes ten semi-structured interviews of health care workers representing different antenatal care centers in Jimma, Ethiopia. The content analyses of translated interview notes were conducted with Atlas.ti7 software, (Atlas.ti Scientific Software Development Gmbh, Berlin). The health care workers shared their insights of the consequences of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in addition to their experience with and responses to the victims. There was a limited understanding of the extent of the adverse impacts of intimate partner violence on pregnancy outcomes, as well as the potential long-term health implications. The informants described how they only gave medical treatment for obstetric complications or visible trauma during pregnancy. There was no formal referral to or linkages with other resources. Women’s empowerment and systemic changes in the health care, including training and capacity building, clear guidelines addressing management of intimate partner violence in pregnancy, and inclusion of intimate partner violence screening tools in the Ethiopian antenatal care chart/card, were recommended by the informants. The adverse impacts of intimate partner violence on pregnancy outcomes were poorly understood by the Ethiopian health care workers in this study. They offered limited assistance to the victims and recommended changes in the routine antenatal care (ANC) and health care systems. They identified various policy initiatives focusing on women’s empowerment to reduce intimate partner violence and its complications especially during pregnancy.

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Intimate partner violence among postpartum women at a teaching hospital in Nigeria’s Federal Capital City: pattern and materno-fetal outcomes

Therapeutic Advances in Reproductive Health ◽

10.1177/2633494120928346 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 263349412092834

Author(s):

Godwin O. Akaba ◽

Habiba I. Abdullahi

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Teaching Hospital ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Sexual Partners ◽

Postpartum Women ◽

Fetal Outcomes ◽

The Past ◽

Increased Risk ◽

In Pregnancy

Background: Intimate partner violence is an important public health and human rights issue. Previous studies have considered intimate partner violence in pregnancy mainly among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics thereby missing out a few who may encounter this problem in late pregnancy or just before delivery. This study had the objective of ascertaining the prevalence, pattern of intimate partner violence, and associated materno-fetal outcomes. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January 2017 and June 2017 among postpartum mothers at a Nigerian Teaching Hospital just before being discharged home. The abuse assessment score was adapted and used to interview women regarding possible intimate partner violence experiences within the past 1 year and during the pregnancy after obtaining written consent. Results: Out of 349 postpartum women interviewed, 102/349 (29.2%) experienced intimate partner violence in the past 1 year, while 18/349 (5.2%) of intimate partner violence occurred in the index pregnancy. Sexual partners were the main perpetuators of intimate partner violence, 67/102 (65.7%), while 35/102 (34.3%) were by someone else other than their sexual partners. Among those abused in the current pregnancy, 10/18 (55.6%) were abused once and the remaining 8/18 (44.4%) were abused more than once. Intimate partner violence was associated with higher chances of cesarean section ( p = 0.001), increased risk of lesser birth weight babies ( p = 0.014), and maternal complications in pregnancy ( p = 0.030). Conclusion: The prevalence of intimate partner violence in pregnancy in Abuja is high with associated poor materno-fetal outcomes. Enforcing existing legislations and screening for intimate partner violence during routine antenatal care may help reduce its prevalence and ensure a positive pregnancy experience for Nigerian women.

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Is intimate partner violence more common in pregnant women with severe mental illness? A retrospective study

International Journal of Social Psychiatry ◽

10.1177/0020764019897286 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 (3) ◽

pp. 225-231 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Liana Suparare ◽

Stuart J Watson ◽

Ray Binns ◽

Jacqueline Frayne ◽

Megan Galbally

Keyword(s):

Bipolar Disorder ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Substance Use ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Psychotic Disorders ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Illicit Substance Use ◽

In Pregnancy

Objective: To examine the risk of past and current experiences of intimate partner violence (IPV) in women with severe mental illness (SMI) in pregnancy. Methods: We examined past and current experiences of IPV in women with SMI in pregnancy. The data of 304 women with SMI including schizophrenia and related psychotic disorders and Bipolar Disorder meeting International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification (ICD-10-AM) criteria were extracted from hospital records at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Western Australia. Comparisons were made between our study data and the Australian population data reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, which included data on pregnant women in Western Australia. Additional measures included reported demographics, substance use and pregnancy variables. Results: Around 48% of pregnant women with SMI had experienced IPV and were three times the risk when compared with the general pregnant population in Australia. There was no difference in rates of IPV in those women with psychotic disorders when compared with bipolar disorder. Furthermore, the rates of smoking and illicit substance use were significantly higher in pregnant women with SMI who experienced IPV compared with those who have not experienced IPV. Conclusion: These findings suggest women with SMI in pregnancy are at significantly higher risk of having experienced or experiencing IPV. In addition, IPV in pregnant women with SMI may increase the risk of smoking and illicit substance use. Together this suggests that maternity and mental health services should ensure there are both screening and support pathways for IPV that are developed and evaluated specifically for pregnant women with SMI.

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Intimate partner violence in pregnancy: a cross-sectional study from post-conflict northern Uganda

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027541 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (11) ◽

pp. e027541

Author(s):

Susan Clarke ◽

Robyn Richmond ◽

Eleanor Black ◽

Helen Fry ◽

James Henry Obol ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Northern Uganda ◽

Multivariate Logistic Regression ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Clinics ◽

Post Conflict ◽

Rural Health Clinics ◽

In Pregnancy

ObjectivesTo determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnancy and to understand associations and determinants.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingTwo rural health clinics in post-conflict northern Uganda.ParticipantsWomen attending two rural health clinics for a new service providing cervical cancer screening, who had experienced pregnancy.Primary and secondary outcome measuresData were collected by a questionnaire using validated questions from the demographic health survey women’s questionnaire and the domestic violence module. Data were entered into tablets using Questionnaire Development System software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed, using experience of IPV in pregnancy as the dependent variable. SPSS V.25 was used for all analysis.ResultsOf 409 participant women, 26.7% (95% CI 18.6% to 35.9%) reported having been slapped, hit or beaten by a partner while pregnant. For 32.3% (95% CI 20.2% to 37.9%) of the women the violence became worse during pregnancy. Women who had ever experienced IPV in pregnancy were more likely to have experienced violence in the previous 12 months (OR 4.45, 95% CI 2.80 to 7.09). In multivariate logistic regression, the strongest independent associations with IPV in pregnancy were partner’s daily drinking of alcohol (OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.19 to 3.43) and controlling behaviours (OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.33).ConclusionsThe women in this study had more exposure to IPV in pregnancy than previously reported for this region. Women’s previous experience of intimate partner violence, partner’s daily use of alcohol and his controlling behaviours were strong associations with IPV in pregnancy. This study highlights the uneven distribution of risk and the importance of research among the most vulnerable population in rural and disadvantaged settings. More research is needed in local rural and urban settings to illuminate this result and inform intervention and policy.

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Intimate Partner Violence in Pregnancy; Effects of Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Health

Turkiye Klinikleri Journal of Health Sciences ◽

10.5336/healthsci.2019-65201 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 150-156

Author(s):

Fatma Nilüfer TOPKARA ◽

Nebahat ÖZERDOĞAN

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Neonatal Health ◽

In Pregnancy

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The Association between Intimate Partner Violence, Depression and Influenza-Like Illness Experienced by Pregnant Women in Australia

Women ◽

10.3390/women1040017 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 1 (4) ◽

pp. 192-203

Author(s):

Susan J. Rees ◽

Ruth Wells ◽

Mohammed Mohsin ◽

Nawal Nadar ◽

Batool Moussa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intimate Partner Violence ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Partner Violence ◽

Post Partum ◽

Intimate Partner ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Influenza Like Illness ◽

History Play ◽

In Pregnancy

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a major public health issue, including during pregnancy where it poses a serious risk to the woman’s health. Influenza-Like Illness (ILI) also causes significant morbidity for women during pregnancy. It may be possible that ILI in pregnancy is associated with IPV, and that depression and trauma history play a role in the connection. 524 Australia-born women and 578 refugee-background women. Baseline participants were randomly recruited and interviewed from antenatal clinics between January 2015 and March 2016, and they were reinterviewed six months post-partum. Bivariate and path analysis were used to assess links between IPV, depression and ILI. One in 10 women (10%; 111 out of 1102) reported ILI during their pregnancy period and this rate was significantly (p < 0.001) higher for women born in conflict-affected countries (13%; 76 out of 578) as compared to Australian-born women (7%; 35 out of 524). In both groups, Time 1 traumatic events, IPV and depression symptoms were significantly associated with ILI at Time 2. A significant association between IPV at Time 1 and ILI at Time 2 was fully mediated by depression symptoms at Time 1 (Beta = 0.36 p < 0.001). A significant direct path was shown from depression symptoms to ILI (Beta = 0.26, p < 0.001). Regardless of migration history, pregnant women who have experienced IPV and depression are more likely to report influenza-like symptoms in pregnancy. This may suggest that trauma and depression negatively affect immunity, although it could also indicate a connection between depressive symptoms and physical experiences of ILI.

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