Ashraf Saber, Maryam Omidi, Fereshteh Eidy, Mahdis Mehrabi Bardar, Rahman Panahi, Zahra Moghadasi, Shiva Pouraliroudbaneh, Ahmadreza Shamsabadi,
Volume 20, Issue 2 (Vol.20, No.2, Summer 2024)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Violence against pregnant women is a clear violation of women's rights associated with many consequences and complications both for the mother and fetus. In this study, we aimed to determine factors affecting the severity of domestic violence against pregnant women.
Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was carried out between July 2020 and September 2021. The participants were 234 women with low-risk pregnancies (28-40 weeks) who were transferred to the maternity ward of Bentolhoda Hospital in Bojnurd City. Mothers were selected by the convenience sampling method. A two-part questionnaire was used in this study, which included demographic and midwifery information questionnaires and a domestic violence questionnaire created by Tabrizi in 2013. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using logistic regression.
Results: The prevalence rate of violence against pregnant women (experiencing at least one type of domestic violence from the husband) was 64.6%. Among those who had experienced violence, 36.1% of the participants experienced low to very mild violence during pregnancy and 63.9% experienced moderate violence. However, severe violence was not experienced by any of the research units. Also, there was a significant relationship between babies' gender and the severity of violence (P=0.03). Pregnant women with male fetus (OR = 3.14, CI95%:1.093–9.069) were 3.14 times more exposed to violence with moderate severity.
Conclusion: In this study, most women suffered domestic violence with moderate severity. Among pregnant women with male fetuses, the severity of violence was even higher. Thus, it is necessary to pay a proper attention to the design and implementation of educational and support programs for these women to prevent domestic violence and reduce its adverse impacts.
