Identifying Types of Domestic Violence and Its Associated Risk Factors in a Pregnant Population in Kerman Hospitals, Iran Republic

Abstract

The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of different kinds of physical and emotional violence in an Iranian pregnant population and to examine its associated risk factors. This cross-sectional study was done from March through July 2005 in the 4 main hospitals of Kerman, Iran, which had maternity units. In total, 416 out of 460 women who were asked to participate agreed to be interviewed, a 90.4% response rate. All respondents were interviewed privately during the first 48 hours after delivery. The mean age (+/- SD) was 28.0 +/- 5.6, and all were married. Most of the women were urban residents (89.2%), and the majority of them were multiparous (78.8%). Nearly 16% of mothers said the pregnancies were unintended. In total, 35% (95% confidence interval: 30%-40%) of women had experienced 1 or more episodes of emotional violence during the pregnancy inflicted by their husbands, and 106 women (25%; 95% confidence interval: 21%-30%) had experienced at least 1 episode of physical violence. The highest odds of domestic violence during pregnancy was associated with unintended pregnancies (odds ratio: 7.66; 95% confidence interval: 3.45-16.99) and multiparous pregnancies (odds ratio: 6.88; 95% confidence interval: 3.46-13.68). Considering the high prevalence of different types of domestic violence during pregnancy, it should be regarded as a priority for health policy experts in Kerman and possibly Iran.

Correlates of Intimate Partner Physical Violence Among Young Reproductive Age Women in Mysore, India

“…Women reporting physical assault by an intimate partner are usually younger in age, 7 lower in socioeconomic status, 8 lower in educational attainment, 7,9 and lack a remunerated occupation. 10 Partner characteristics most predictive of IPPV among women includes lower educational attainment, 11,12 alcohol abuse, 9,13 multiple partners, 13 illegal drug use, 8,12 and irregular or intermittent employment.…”

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy: analysis of prevalence data from 19 countries

“…Available estimates vary widely, from about 3% 15 to 30%, 1,[16][17][18] Most studies on prevalence have come from small clinical samples in maternity wards, 16 which often serve particular patient groups and communities, such as immigrant or minority groups, 19 rural communities, 20 adolescents, 21 and women from affluent areas. 22 A number of other studies include participants from rural and urban areas of the USA, 23 Canada, 24 Peru, 25 Mexico, 17 Rwanda, 26 Nigeria, 27 Saudi Arabia, 28 Iran, 16 as well as from India, 29 Pakistan, 30 UK, 15 and New Zealand. 31 Studies vary greatly in respect to the survey methods employed, which include face-to-face, telephone, computer-based and questionnaire interviews, which may affect response rates.…”

Importance of Pre-pregnancy Counseling in Iran: Results from the High Risk Pregnancy Survey 2012

“…In an investigation involving 19 countries, the mentioned figure ranged from 2.0% in Australia and the Philippines to 13.5% in Uganda (14), while, the same figure was 4 and 5% respectively in Azerbaijan and Jordan (4), countries adjacent to and near Iran. Other conducted studies in Iran are, similarly, indicative of high rates of violence against pregnant women (15). Although the rate of cigarette smoking was significantly lower compared to that of western countries (5), water pipe and opiate smoking rates were considerably high ( Table 2).…”