The association of intimate partner violence during pregnancy with preterm birth in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2019-11
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Addis Abeba University
Abstract
Background: Preterm birth is a significant and growing public health problem leading to
increased neonatal morbidity and mortality. Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is one of
the factors that affect not only women’s health but also the health of the newborn. However, the
association between intimate partner violence during pregnancy and preterm birth was not
adequately studied in Ethiopia.
Objective: To assess the association between intimate partner violence during pregnancy and
preterm birth in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility-based age-matched case-control study was conducted among 420 women
[140 cases (women who had preterm births) and 280 controls (women who had term births)] in
six public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data was collected using a structured, intervieweradministered
questionnaire.
A woman who reported the experience of at least one act of violent
act, either physical or sexual or emotional or controlling behaviours by an intimate partner
during the index pregnancy period was considered exposed to intimate partner violence during
pregnancy. Descriptive statistics were computed to describe the characteristics of study
participants. Additionally, the association between intimate partner violence during pregnancy
and preterm birth was analyzed using multivariable conditional logistics regression model.
Statistical significance was declared at P<0.05. The analysis was performed using Stata 14.0.
Results: The odds of preterm birth was four times higher among women who experienced
physical violence (AOR: 3.98, 95% CI: 1.03, 15.32), three times higher among women who
experienced emotional violence (AOR: 3.64, 95% CI: 1.01, 13.06) and four times higher among
women who reported controlling behaviors of their husbands/partners (AOR: 4.32, 95% CI: 1.10,
16.89) during their pregnancy.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study identified that women who experienced physical
and emotional violence and whose husbands/partners demonstrated controlling behavior during
pregnancy have a higher risk of preterm birth. To reduce the risk of preterm birth, prevention of
physical and emotional violence during pregnancy and improving women’s autonomy should be
integrated into perinatal care interventions.
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Keywords
Preterm birth, Intimate partner violence, Pregnancy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia