Prevalence and Determinants of Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy in Central India

Violence against women is significant but under-reported and less discussed public health problem. Despite its negative consequence both for maternal and neonatal health; the magnitude of intimate partner violence among pregnant women is not assessed routinely.

We conducted a hospital-based cross-sectional survey covering 3, 839 women admitted in the postpartum ward of the nine public hospitals located in three districts of Madhya Pradesh. Data about physical, psychological, and sexual intimate partner violence was collected using the questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios along with confidence interval were calculated to determine the predictors of physical intimate partner violence during pregnancy.

The prevalence of physical, psychological and sexual partner violence during the recent pregnancy was 8.73%, 19.35% and 13.13% respectively. Among multiple parous women, 6.30% faced physical violence during past pregnancies but not in present pregnancy. Most women facing physical IPV during pregnancy sustained multiple injuries; upper limb was the most common site. Factors predicting physical intimate partner violence during pregnancy included; alcohol consumption by husband; lack of formal education; low per capita income; living in a nuclear family; having ≥ 2 daughters and belonging to the rural background.

Considerable proportions of women experience some type of intimate partner violence during pregnancy. Health-care providers should be trained to screen, identify, respond, and counsel pregnant women and refer them for availing legal help.