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Thursday, April 30, 2009
Charles-Edward Amory Winslow (The Hilton Istanbul Hotel )
Background:
Violence against pregnant women may cause adverse outcomes in both mothers and their children and can be considered an important public health issue. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of violence among pregnant women.
In a cross-sectional study we evaluated 432 postpartum women attending a medical appointment in nine Primary Care Centres of the district of Viseu. Data was collected in the first medical appointment after delivery, through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, distributed and collected on the day of the appointment. The questionnaire comprised questions for socio-demographic characteristics, information about the last pregnancy and questions about domestic violence using the Portuguese validated version of the Abuse Assessment Screening (AAS). The mean age of the respondents was 27.6 +/- 5.6 years, with a range of 15 - 44 years.
The last year prevalence of physical violence in the total sample was 8.2%. The prevalence of physical violence during pregnancy was 5.2%, and was associated with age (≤25years 7.9%, >25years 3.8%, p=0.05), marital status (single 33.3%, married 4.4%, p<0.01) and women’s education (≤9years 6.6%, >9years 3.1%, p=0.06). No statistically significant association was found with residence area (rural 3.5%, urban 6.8%, p=0.11), ethnicity (caucasian 4.9%, other 12.5%, p=0.18), religion (catholic 5.0%, other 10.0%, p=0.32) or unwanted pregnancy (yes 6.7%, no 4.7%, p=0.39). The prevalence of psychological violence was 21.6%, and it differed with age (≤ 30 years 19.4%, > 30 years 27.4%, p=0.05), women’s education (≤9years 16.9%, >9years 28.1%, p<0.01), husband’s education (≤9years 18.2%, >9years 26.9%, p=0.03) and residence area (rural 12.3%, urban 30.5%, p<0.01). The last year prevalence of sexual violence was 1.7% and it was associated with age (≤25years 3.9%, >25years 0.6%, p=0.01), marital status (single 16.7%, married 1.3%, p<0.01).
We found a high prevalence of violence against pregnant women, associated with socioeconomic variables.
Violence against pregnant women may cause adverse outcomes in both mothers and their children and can be considered an important public health issue. The aim of this study was to quantify the prevalence of violence among pregnant women.
Participants and Methods:
In a cross-sectional study we evaluated 432 postpartum women attending a medical appointment in nine Primary Care Centres of the district of Viseu. Data was collected in the first medical appointment after delivery, through an anonymous self-administered questionnaire, distributed and collected on the day of the appointment. The questionnaire comprised questions for socio-demographic characteristics, information about the last pregnancy and questions about domestic violence using the Portuguese validated version of the Abuse Assessment Screening (AAS). The mean age of the respondents was 27.6 +/- 5.6 years, with a range of 15 - 44 years.
Results:
The last year prevalence of physical violence in the total sample was 8.2%. The prevalence of physical violence during pregnancy was 5.2%, and was associated with age (≤25years 7.9%, >25years 3.8%, p=0.05), marital status (single 33.3%, married 4.4%, p<0.01) and women’s education (≤9years 6.6%, >9years 3.1%, p=0.06). No statistically significant association was found with residence area (rural 3.5%, urban 6.8%, p=0.11), ethnicity (caucasian 4.9%, other 12.5%, p=0.18), religion (catholic 5.0%, other 10.0%, p=0.32) or unwanted pregnancy (yes 6.7%, no 4.7%, p=0.39). The prevalence of psychological violence was 21.6%, and it differed with age (≤ 30 years 19.4%, > 30 years 27.4%, p=0.05), women’s education (≤9years 16.9%, >9years 28.1%, p<0.01), husband’s education (≤9years 18.2%, >9years 26.9%, p=0.03) and residence area (rural 12.3%, urban 30.5%, p<0.01). The last year prevalence of sexual violence was 1.7% and it was associated with age (≤25years 3.9%, >25years 0.6%, p=0.01), marital status (single 16.7%, married 1.3%, p<0.01).
Conclusions:
We found a high prevalence of violence against pregnant women, associated with socioeconomic variables.
Learning Objectives: Quantify the prevalence of violence among pregnant women. Establish an association between violence against pregnant women and socio-demographic variables.
Sub-Theme: Gender discrimination and violence against women
See more of: Gender Discrimination and Violence against Women I
See more of: Public Health Practices Around the Globe
See more of: Public Health Practices Around the Globe
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