Trends and determinants of pregnancy-related domestic violence in a referral center in southern Nigeria
Received 19 June 2009; received in revised form 27 August 2009; accepted 19 October 2009. published online 26 November 2009.
Abstract
Objective
To describe the trend and identify associated risk factors for pregnancy-related domestic violence.
Methods
In a cross-sectional study of 502 women attending the sixth week postnatal clinic in a tertiary hospital in urban Nigeria, participants completed semi-structured questionnaires on experience of domestic violence before and during pregnancy, and in the puerperium. Multivariate logistic regression was used to assess risk factors associated with experiencing violence.
Results
The prevalence of domestic violence was 43.5% during the 12months before the pregnancy, 28.3% during the pregnancy, and 4% in the puerperium. Psychological violence was the commonest form of violence experienced. All forms of violence were least common in the puerperium. Experience of violence in the 12months before pregnancy (P<0.0001, odds ratio 274.34 [95% CI, 66.4–1133.8]), HIV seropositivity (P=0.02, odds ratio 2.81 [95% CI, 1.2–6.5]), and regular alcohol intake (P<0.0001, odds ratio 11.60 [95% CI, 3.8–35.1]) significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing domestic violence.
Conclusion
Pregnancy-related domestic violence is an important health problem in this community in southern Nigeria. Experience of violence before the pregnancy, HIV infection, and regular alcohol consumption are risk factors.
ABSTRACT