Violence and depression among pregnant women in Egypt

Abstract

Background Depression is a serious mental health disorder that might affect women in the childbearing period. Incidences increase during pregnancy as well as after delivery. Its association with intimate partner violence (defined as physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a current or former partner) has been reported in many countries. Data about this sensitive issue are lacking in Egypt. The aim of the study was to determine the relation between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy. Methods This was a case control study conducted at the outpatient clinics in Suez Canal University hospital, from January 2019 to March 2020. The study included two groups, the study group included women exposed to violence during the current pregnancy and a control one included women with no history of violence. Both groups were recruited according to the predetermined inclusion criteria (women aged 18-45 years, continuous marital relationship, no history of depression in current or previous pregnancies, and singleton pregnancy). Women were asked to complete the Arabic validated NorVold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (measuring four types of abuse: emotional, physical, sexual, and violence in the health care system, the last one being excluded). Depression was evaluated using the Arabic validated form of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (comprises 10 questions that represent patients’ feelings in the last 7 days). The main outcome measure was to assess the association between intimate partner violence and depression. Results We recruited 158 women in each group. Both groups were matched in their demographic characters. Although emotional violence was reported prominently among women exposed to IPV 87.9% (139/158), it was not significantly reported in depressed women (P value 0.084). Physical and sexual violence were significantly reported among depressed women (P value 0.022 and 0.001, respectively). There was a significant difference between women exposed to violence and those who were not exposed to violence in the total depression scores (13.63 ± 5.47 and 10.65 ± 5.44, respectively with a p value < 0.001). Emotional (p value < 0.001) and sexual violence (mild and severe with p value of 0.026 and 0.002 respectively) had significant roles as risk factors for depression during pregnancy in single regression and after control of other confounders. Conclusion There was a strong association between intimate partner violence and depression during pregnancy.

Depression Associated With Intrafamily Violence in Pregnant Women Treated at a Peruvian Health Center, 2022

“…Having domestic violence (general) increases the probability of depression during pregnancy by 9 times, this figure is alarming due to the consequences that this entails and is even higher than that of a study carried out in Brazil that mentioned that women who had suffered a certain type of violence were 6.74 times more likely to present depressive symptoms [33]. Various studies were reviewed in which evidence was obtained that supports the data obtained, one of the studies was carried out in Egypt with pregnant women in which the relationship between violence exerted by couples and depression was evaluated, they found a great association between both variables, in addition to this they found that the most significant type of violence that caused depression was emotional and sexual [34]. Another study carried out in northern Tanzania also found a relevant association between intimate partner violence and depression, in which it coincides with the present study and considers violence, in any of its types, but mainly physical, as a risk factor.…”

Comparison of maternal-fetal attachment, anxiety, depression, and prevalence of intimate partner violence in Iranian women with intended and unintended pregnancy: a cross-sectional study

“…Violence was also more prevalent among women with unintended pregnancies and those experiencing depression, suggesting a significant association between domestic violence and depression during pregnancy [ 49 , 50 ]. The disparities in domestic violence prevalence between Iran and the United States may be attributed to a few key factors, including differences in the measurement tools used to assess domestic violence, variations in sample sizes across studies, as well as the reluctance of women to disclose their experiences of abuse.…”

Verbal and psychological violence against women in Turkey and its determinants

“…It is understood that this situation can lead to serious psychological consequences [ 29 ]. Studies have revealed that prenatal exposure to verbal, psychological and sexual violence has negative effects on newborns [ 33 , 58 ].…”

“…In addition, having a large number of children and being polygamous (married to more than one woman) heighten the chances of psychological and verbal violence against women [ 48 ]. Another study found that exposure to verbal and psychological violence during pregnancy is strongly associated with depression [ 58 ].…”