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

Susan Clarke, R. Richmond, Eleanor Black, Helen P. Fry, J. Obol, H. Worth

BMJ Open, 2019

409 participants · 22 citations

Abstract

Objectives To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnancy and to understand associations and determinants. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Two rural health clinics in post-conflict northern Uganda. Participants Women attending two rural health clinics for a new service providing cervical cancer screening, who had experienced pregnancy. Primary and secondary outcome measures Data 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. Results Of 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). Conclusions The women in this study had more exposure to IPV in pregnancy than…

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 409 participants or records.

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