Effect of Intimate Partner Violence on Maternal and Birth Outcomes of Pregnancy among Antenatal Clinic Attendees in Delhi: A Prospective Observational Study.

CONTEXT

Violence against women is a major public health problem and a violation of their human rights. Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy has been linked to various adverse maternal health outcomes and birth outcomes.

AIMS

The aim of this study is to assess the magnitude of maternal complications and adverse birth outcomes in relation to IPV.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Prospective observational study was conducted from April 2015 to May 2018 in the antenatal clinic of a Tertiary Care Hospital in Delhi.

SUBJECTS AND METHODS

Sample of 1500 pregnant women (≤20 weeks gestation) were recruited and followed up at regular intervals, up to the birth outcome.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 25. Value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Prevalence of IPV at baseline was 29.7%. Significantly higher proportion of IPV victims (47.2%) had poor weight gain during the pregnancy. Subjects reporting violence at any of the study contacts had a higher incidence of preterm delivery (12.7%), and a significantly higher incidence of low birth weight in the newborns (32.1% vs 22.3%) ( < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings reveal that IPV during pregnancy is common and significantly associated with adverse maternal and birth outcomes. The findings stress need for research and development of a screening tool to identify violence early in pregnancy and thus prevent its consequences.