Domestic abuse before, during and after pregnancy in Jahrom, Islamic Republic of Iran

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional study among 300 women with a child aged 6 to 18 months, to determine the prevalence and determinants of domestic abuse against women in Jahrom; before, during and after pregnancy. The prevalence of abuse during pregnancy (42%) was lower than during the 1 year before pregnancy (51.7%) and after delivery (53.5%). The overall prevalence of emotional abuse, sexual abuse and physical abuse was 53.5%, 34.7% and 26.7% respectively. Abuse during any previous period was a strong risk factor for subsequent abuse. Other risk factors associated with abuse were: woman previously witnessing domestic violence, opium use by husband, woman's education ≤ 12 years, age at marriage of woman < 18 years, husband's education ≤ 12 years, woman's economic dependency and living in an extended family. Routine screening of abuse in maternity clinics should be considered. RÉSUMÉ Nous avons réalisé une étude transversale auprès de 300 femmes ayant un enfant âgé de 6 à 18 mois, afin de d'identifier la prévalence et les déterminants de la violence familiale exercée avant, pendant et après la grossesse à l'encontre de femmes résidant à Jahrom (République islamique d'Iran). Au cours de la grossesse, la prévalence de la violence était plus faible (42 %) qu'au cours de l'année précédant la grossesse (51,7 %) et qu'après l'accouchement (53,5 %). La prévalence globale de la violence psychologique, sexuelle et physique s'élevait à 53,5 %, 34,7 % et 26,7 %, respectivement. La violence durant toute période antérieure constituait un facteur de risque élevé de violence future. D'autres facteurs de risque étaient associés à la violence : femme ayant déjà assisté à des scènes de violence familiale, mari consommant de l'opium, femme instruite jusqu'à l'âge de 12 ans au maximum, femme mariée avant 18 ans, mari instruit jusqu'à l'âge de 12 ans au maximum, dépendance économique de la femme et vie dans une famille élargie. Un dépistage systématique de la violence lors des consultations en maternité devrait être envisagé. ‫املتوسط‬ ‫لرشق‬ ‫الصحية‬ ‫املجلة‬ ‫عرش‬ ‫السادس‬ ‫املجلد‬ ‫السابع‬ ‫العدد‬ 753

Violencia de la pareja íntima contra las mujeres en el embarazo: una lectura crítica con perspectiva de género

“…In Asia, the highest percentage was observed in the Islamic Republic of Iran where there was a prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy of 42.0% (that increases to 52.5% after pregnancy), in a hospital study conducted with 300 married women (35). The lowest prevalence was found in China, where 4.3% during the approximate 9 months of pregnancy was detected in a study of 12,440 women from 32 communities (36).…”

“…According to studies conducted in a variety of countries with diverse social and cultural contexts, discrepancies between violence before, during and after pregnancy are evident. Intimate partner violence commonly decreases with pregnancy (23,(35)(36)40). In Mexico, however, pregnancy does not appear to be a protective factor against couple violence (41).…”

“…In Iran (35) and Hong Kong (74), a history of abuse of women during pregnancy often includes conflicts with their partner's family. In Taiwan, a patriarchal family is one of the main associated factors with partner violence during pregnancy (71).…”

Physical intimate partner violence and low birth weight in newborns from primary health care units of the city of Rio de Janeiro

“…Other authors also found that most women who report PIPV during pregnancy state that PIPV also occurred before and after pregnancy 40,41 . In summary, PIPV tends to recur [38][39][40][41] , so the possibility of temporal bias in this study seems small. Given these considerations, the study findings indicate the impact of PIPV on LBW, especially the role of PIPV severity on its occurrence.…”

“…Although short, this period includes the month after birth, that is, it is possible that the outcome preceded exposure, which would be a temporal bias. Nonetheless, PIPV seems to be chronic 38,39 . Gartland et al 38 found that few women report the first act of violence after delivery, suggesting that PIPV may have begun before delivery.…”