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Abstract
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INTRODUCTION: Domestic violence or intimate partner violence (IPV) against women is a major public health and human rights concern. It is amongst the most pervasive forms of violence against women.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (1) To study the magnitude physical domestic violence during pregnancy among women delivering at a government run tertiary hospital of an urban area in India. (2) To study risk factors for physical domestic violence of the studied population.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted amongst women delivering at Sassoon General Hospitals, Pune. Patients were included by simple random sampling. A structured interview schedule was used to collect the data. The dependent variable was physical domestic violence. The independent variables were wife's age, education, occupation, husband's age, education, residence, parity, duration of marriage and substance abuse in the husband. Quantitative data were analyzed by Fishers Exact test and calculation of odds ratio with 95% confidence interval (CI). For qualitative data, content analysis was done in which key themes were identified.
RESULTS: A total of 404 women was included in the sample. The prevalence of physical domestic violence was 9.15% (95% CI of 6.28% to 12.02%). In 35 (95%) cases, husband was the perpetrator. Urban residents were at 4.2 times, and poverty was having 3 times more risk of physical violence during pregnancy. Women with married life of less than 1 year were 6.9 times while women with alcoholic husbands were 4.56 times more likely to experience physical violence. Tobacco-chewing, gutkha and smoking were not associated with physical domestic violence.
CONCLUSION: Well-designed protocols and referrals systems along with legal and counseling options should be put in place so that women get timely, appropriate care; follow-up and support services. Women should be able to disclose their experiences in a secure environment.
KEYWORDS: Domestic violence, Pregnancy, Risk Factors |