Prevalence and associated factors of intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending health care facilities, Northern Ethiopia: comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem. While it is high among pregnant women in Ethiopia, the cases are under-reported, and the true extent of the issue is uncertain. The study is intended to determine the prevalence and determinants of IPV among pregnant women seeking antenatal care (ANC). A comparative cross-sectional survey was conducted in healthcare facilities, Northern Ethiopia, in 2019. A sample of 324 pregnant women visiting ANC service was selected by systematic sampling. Binary logistic regression was conducted to identify significant determinants. The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy was 36.3%. Lack of formal schooling, rural life, husband’s additional sexual partners, lack of shared decisions, and partners’ alcohol intake were identified as a predictor of IPV. It is important to consider raising awareness, enhancing women’s decision-making abilities, and educating women. Furthermore, partner involvement should be addressed to minimize violence against women in the community.

IMPACT STATEMENT

• What is already known on this subject? Intimate partner abuse (IPV) is a global public health problem as well as a significant violation of human rights, and Ethiopia has the world’s highest rates of physical and sexual IPV. The immediate effect of IPV during pregnancy (sexually transmitted infections (STI), intrauterine growth retardations (IUGR), preterm labour, miscarriage, abortion, antepartum haemorrhage, perinatal death) was known.

• What do the results of this study add? Even though the outcome of IPV among pregnant women was recognised, the underlying factors of the violence were not well understood. As a result, this research will contribute to our understanding of the determinants of IPV among pregnant women.

• What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? In this research, we revealed that the majority of the determinants of IPV among pregnant women were linked to their husband’s behaviour, and that women’s decision-making capacity and educational level were also root causes of the violence. Therefore, Women empowerment and partner participation during antenatal care would offer outstanding feedback to reduce partner violence. Aside from that, more research in family health would provide in-depth knowledge about the root cause of the violence.

Keywords:

• Intimate partner violence
• pregnancy
• Wukro and Kiteawlaelo
• Tigray
• Ethiopia

Ethics approval and consent to participate

The study protocol was approved by the Institutional Research Review Board of Mekelle University College of Health Sciences and Community Services Ethical Review Committee. Permission was obtained from all relevant authorities in the Tigray Regional Health Bureau as well as participating Woredas and health care facilities. Written consent was obtained from participants before enrolment in the study. Participation in the study was voluntary and participants were informed of the right to withdraw from the study. Data collection was conducted confidentially and data were de-identified and de-linked and stored in a secure location.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Mekelle University, College of Health Sciences for supporting us in conducting this research. Our gratitude also goes to supervisors, data collectors, respondents, Tigray regional health bureau, and governmental health care facilities of the study areas for facilitating the study.

Author contributions

MA1 and MA2: initiation of the study, design, analysis, and writing of the manuscript., DEM and SM: Data analysis and writing the manuscript, TE, DE and HT: Data analysis and manuscript revision. All authors read and approved the final manuscript and have an equal contribution.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All relevant data are within the paper and its supporting information file.