Family Medicine Unit, Manna Mission Hospital, Accra, Ghana.
Family Health University College, Accra, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2024 Sep 9;19(9):e0310169. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0310169. eCollection 2024.
Intimate partner violence in pregnancy is a significant public health issue that has several detrimental effects. Pregnant women subjected to intimate partner violence (IPV) have a higher risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes.
The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence, patterns and factors associated with intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending a primary care antenatal clinic.
A quantitative cross-sectional study design was employed to study intimate partner violence among 269 pregnant women in Accra, Ghana between July and October 2021. Participants were selected by systematic sampling technique. The self-reported Composite Abuse Scale was used to assess and classify intimate partner violence. Socio-demographic, clinical (obstetric) and behavioural characteristics were obtained with a structured questionnaire. Associations were determined between independent and dependent variables using the chi-squared test, and logistic regression with adjusted odds ratio (AOR). The statistical significance level was set at a p-value ≤ 0.05.
The prevalence of IPV was 11.2%. The prevalence of emotional/psychological abuse, harassment/controlling behaviour, physical abuse, sexual abuse and severe combined abuse were 12.3%, 13.0%, 8.2%, 3.3% and 8.9% respectively. Pregnant women who were employed had reduced odds of experiencing IPV [AOR = 0.16 (95%CI: 0.05-0.47), p = 0.001], however, the past experience of violence [AOR = 4.9 (95%CI: 1.06-22.96), p = 0.042], alcohol use by women [AOR = 7.8 (95%CI: 1.63-37.42), p = 0.01], and partners' alcohol consumption [AOR = 10.0 (95%CI: 3.22-31.26), p<0.001] were associated with increased odds of IPV.
There is a high prevalence of IPV among pregnant women in this study from a resource-limited setting. The factors found to be associated with IPV in pregnancy were the employment status of women, alcohol consumption by women or their partners and a previous history of violence. Healthcare providers in primary care need to recognize IPV as a medical condition that can occur in pregnancy and be ready to assist and manage the victims when it is detected.
孕期亲密伴侣暴力是一个重大的公共卫生问题，它有许多不利影响。遭受亲密伴侣暴力的孕妇（IPV）有更高的不良妊娠结局风险。
本研究旨在确定在加纳阿克拉的一个初级保健产前诊所就诊的孕妇中亲密伴侣暴力的流行率、模式和相关因素。
采用定量横断面研究设计，于 2021 年 7 月至 10 月期间对加纳阿克拉的 269 名孕妇进行了亲密伴侣暴力研究。采用系统抽样技术选择参与者。使用自我报告的综合虐待量表评估和分类亲密伴侣暴力。通过结构化问卷获得社会人口统计学、临床（产科）和行为特征。使用卡方检验和调整后的优势比（AOR）的逻辑回归确定独立和因变量之间的关联。统计显著性水平设为 p 值≤0.05。
IPV 的流行率为 11.2%。情感/心理虐待、骚扰/控制行为、身体虐待、性虐待和严重综合虐待的流行率分别为 12.3%、13.0%、8.2%、3.3%和 8.9%。有工作的孕妇发生 IPV 的几率降低[调整后的比值比（AOR）=0.16（95%置信区间：0.05-0.47），p=0.001]，而过去遭受过暴力[AOR=4.9（95%置信区间：1.06-22.96），p=0.042]、妇女饮酒[AOR=7.8（95%置信区间：1.63-37.42），p=0.01]和伴侣饮酒[AOR=10.0（95%置信区间：3.22-31.26），p<0.001]与发生 IPV 的几率增加相关。
在这项来自资源有限环境的研究中，孕妇中 IPV 的流行率很高。与妊娠期间发生的 IPV 相关的因素是妇女的就业状况、妇女或其伴侣的饮酒情况以及以前的暴力史。初级保健医疗服务提供者需要认识到 IPV 是一种可以在妊娠期间发生的医疗状况，并准备好在发现时协助和管理受害者。
