Recent intimate partner violence against women and health: a systematic review and meta-analysis of cohort studies

Abstract

ObjectiveWe reviewed cohort studies to determine the magnitude and temporal direction of the association between recent intimate partner violence (IPV) and a range of adverse health outcomes or health risk behaviours.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsMedline, EMBASE and PsycINFO were searched from the first record to November 2016. Recent IPV was defined as occurring up to and including the last 12 months; all health outcomes were eligible for inclusion. Results were combined using random-effects meta-analysis.Results35 separate cohort studies were retrieved. Eight studies showed evidence of a positive association between recent IPV and subsequent depressive symptoms, with a pooled OR from five estimates of 1.76 (95% CI 1.26 to 2.44, I2=37.5%, p=0.172). Five studies demonstrated a positive, statistically significant relationship between depressive symptoms and subsequent IPV; the pooled OR from two studies was 1.72 (95% CI 1.28 to 2.31, I2=0.0%, p=0.752). Recent IPV was also associated with increased symptoms of subsequent postpartum depression in five studies (OR=2.19, 95% CI 1.39 to 3.45, p=0.000), although there was substantial heterogeneity. There was some evidence of a bidirectional relationship between recent IPV and hard drug use and marijuana use, although studies were limited. There was no evidence of an association between recent IPV and alcohol use or sexually transmitted infections (STIs), although there were few studies and inconsistent measurement of alcohol and STIs.ConclusionsExposure to violence has significant impacts. Longitudinal studies are needed to understand the temporal relationship between recent IPV and different health issues, while considering the differential effects of recent versus past exposure to IPV. Improved measurement will enable an understanding of the immediate and longer term health needs of women exposed to IPV. Healthcare providers and IPV organisations should be aware of the bidirectional relationship between recent IPV and depressive symptoms.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42016033372.

A longitudinal study of associations between HIV‐related stigma, recent violence and depression among women living with HIV in a Canadian cohort study

“…Our findings also align with a systematic review of longitudinal effects of recent IPV on depression among women, suggesting that WLHIV also experience the harmful impacts of violence exposure on depression . Similar to these findings, we also found a bidirectional relationship between recent violence and depression over time.…”

“…Violence from both partners and non‐partners has harmful impacts on physical, sexual, reproductive and mental health outcomes . Persons who experience violence have reported higher rates of depression, post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicide risk and lower self‐esteem . While women and men in Canada self‐report similar rates of physical IPV, women are more likely than men to report multiple victimizations, including sexual IPV .…”

“…This is important to assess, as cross‐sectional research with adolescents living with HIV in South Africa report associations between abuse, HIV‐related stigma and depressive symptoms . A recent systematic review of cohort studies examining recent IPV and health outcomes demonstrated bidirectional associations between IPV and depression . Yet stigma was not assessed in the review, no included studies were conducted in Canada, and only one study focused on experiences among WLHIV (sex workers in Kenya) .…”

“…A recent systematic review of cohort studies examining recent IPV and health outcomes demonstrated bidirectional associations between IPV and depression . Yet stigma was not assessed in the review, no included studies were conducted in Canada, and only one study focused on experiences among WLHIV (sex workers in Kenya) . We address these knowledge gaps by examining pathways between stigma, violence and depression among WLHIV in Canada's three provinces with the highest number of HIV cases: Ontario (42% of total cases), Quebec (27% of total cases) and British Columbia (16.3% of total cases) .…”

Depressive symptoms among women in Raqqa Governorate, Syria: associations with intimate partner violence, food insecurity, and perceived needs

“…2013; Bacchus et al . 2018). Similarly, in the present study, we also document a robust relationship between depressive symptoms and the overall score for any form of past-3-month physical, sexual, and emotional IPV.…”