The study has implications for research, practice and education. Health-care providers need to play a more visible and instrumental role in continuously assessing menopausal women's needs as well as to implement appropriate health educational programs. Further research addressing women's health needs is also essential for improving the quality of life of menopausal women in Jordan.

Healthcare professionals worldwide need to play an instrumental role in providing culture-specific and evidence-based care to empower women staying in abusive relationships, taking into consideration the influence of Arab Muslim culture.

The women reported high scores on health responsibility and self-actualization, moderate scores on interpersonal support and nutrition, and low scores on physical activity and stress management behaviours. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, PRACTICE AND RESEARCH: The findings have implications for the quality of care delivered through the maternal and child health services. Health promotion and healthy lifestyle need to be an integral part of health services provided for pregnant women. Further research is needed to develop an instrument that integrates the cultural beliefs relating to lifestyle practices of Jordanian pregnant women mainly in the areas of physical activities and stress management. Policy implications of the findings are discussed.

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The prevalence of physical, emotional, verbal and sexual violence by husbands during pregnancy was 10.4%, 23.4%, 23.7%, and 5.7%, respectively. Prevalence of physical, emotional and verbal violence by a family member other than the husband was 1.9%, 11.1% and 13.9%, respectively, and most perpetrators were the mother in-law. Data also showed that there was a significant association between prevalence of violence and unplanned pregnancy, the pregnant women's perception of their husband's violent attributes and the women's low self-esteem. Pre- and post-natal visits should include assessment for family violence and intervention when violence or abuse is identified. The findings support continued public awareness of family violence to bring about social and political changes that increase reporting and reduce incidence of violence in Jordan.