Domestic violence and its relationship with quality of life in pregnant women during the outbreak of COVID-19 disease

Abstract

Background During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women bear considerable physical and psychological stress because of their special conditions, which combined with other stress factors such as violence, makes their situation even more critical. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence and its relationship with quality of life in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This cross-sectional study was performed with the participation of 250 pregnant women in the obstetrics clinic of 29-Bahman Hospital, Tabriz city. Using a three-part questionnaire consisting of the socio-demographic and obstetrics information, the domestic violence questionnaire developed by WHO, and the SF-12 quality of life questionnaire, the required information was collected. A general linear model was then used to determine the relationship between domestic violence and quality of life, while adjusting the socio-demographic and obstetrics information. Results According to the data, more than one-third of pregnant women (35.2 %) had experienced domestic violence. The most common type of violence experienced was emotional violence (32.8 %), followed by sexual violence (12.4 %), and physical violence (4.8 %). The mean score of the physical health department of quality of life in the group of women exposed to violence (50.21) was lower compared to the unexposed group (53.45), though there was no significant difference between them (P = 0.25). However, the mean score of the mental health department of quality of life in women exposed to violence (46.27) was significantly lower compared to unexposed women (61.17) (P < 0.001). Based on the general linear model, the mean score for quality of life in the mental health dimension was significantly higher among unexposed women compared to those exposed to violence (β = 9.3, 95 %CI: 3.5 to 15.0, P = 0.002). Conclusions The findings of this study indicate a high prevalence of domestic violence and its relationship with a low quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the findings signify the importance of screening pregnant women in terms of domestic violence in respective centers as well as the necessity of conducting proper interventions to address domestic violence to improve the quality of life in women.

Exploring Factors Associated with Pregnant Womxn’s Experiences of Material Hardship during COVID-19

“…Perhaps the most signi cant contribution that this study makes to the COVID-19 literature is the inclusion of economic abuse as part of measurement of intimate partner violence. Although researchers have highlighted the increase in intimate partner violence that has emerged as part of the COVID-19, both in the general population [49,51] and among pregnant women speci cally [52,53]. To the author's knowledge none of these studies included economic abuse.…”

“…Although most studies examining the women's intimate partner violence experiences during the pandemic have focused on the general population, a small number studies have looked speci cally at the experiences of pregnant women. Naghizadeh and colleagues found one-third of their sample of 250 pregnant women seeking services at an obstetrics clinic in Iran reported experiencing intimate partner violence and those who had experienced abuse reported lower mental health quality of life [52]. Similarly, a study of 885 pregnant women in South Africa found approximately 12% of women t the criteria to be classi ed as having probable common mental health disorders; a higher percentage of these women reported anxiety about being infected with COVID, were severely food insecure during the lockdown and had experienced either psychological, physical, or sexual abuse by an intimate partner [53].…”

Intimate partner violence in the Kingdom of Bahrain

“…have reported a significantly high prevalence of domestic abuse in Tabriz during the COVID-19 pandemic and poor quality of life effectuated by it. [ 21 ] Hawcroft et al . conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence and outcomes of domestic abuse inferred that husbands are the most frequent abusers in the Arab region.…”

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Mental Disorders. A Critical Review

“…Two studies focused on physical violence against health workers, specifically Iranian nurses [ 151 ], and mental illness in Chinese health workers who experienced aggression in their workplace [ 152 ]. Two studies specifically focused on pregnant women in Iran [ 153 ] and Ethiopia [ 154 ], documenting high rates of violence during the pandemic. Only one study included an evaluation of a violence prevention or mitigation program.…”