Adverse perinatal outcomes of intimate partner violence during pregnancy
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare
ISSN: 2056-4902
Article publication date: 9 April 2021
Issue publication date: 23 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to conduct to determine the adverse perinatal outcomes of intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy in Kurdistan, Iran.
Design/methodology/approach
In a prospective cohort study, 1,080 pregnant women were categorized into 433 and 647 women, respectively, exposed and unexposed to IPV followed by 48 h post-delivery. The values of incidence rate, relative risk and corresponding 95% confidence interval were calculated for interesting outcomes.
Findings
There was a statistically significant association between IPV exposure during pregnancy and perinatal mortality, pre-term birth (PTB), intra uterine growth restriction (IUGR), premature rupture of membranes (PROM), placental abruption and low birth weight (LBW).
Social implications
Iran is a developing country with a mosaic of different ethnicities and cultures. It seems that the less developed regions of Iran, such as Kurdistan, are also culturally different from most other regions of Iran. Based on a systematic review study, the prevalence of domestic violence is estimated to be 66% (CI 95%: 55–77) in the general population of Iran. This value was 75% (CI 95%: 56–94) in western Iran, the geographic area of the study, and higher than other parts of the country. IPV during pregnancy can result in many adverse outcomes for mothers and children.
Originality/value
According to the results of this study, the occurrence of prenatal mortality, PTB, IUGR, PROM, placental abruption and LBW was significantly higher in pregnant women exposed to IPV during pregnancy compared with unexposed women. Strategies such as training the skills needed for health system staff to identify female victims of violence, counseling, treatment and referral to related specialized centers are suggested.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
This article is the result of a medical student thesis with the same name supported by the research council of Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences. This research would not have been possible without the cooperation of study participants whom the authors appreciate their assistance.Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Funding: Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences.
Citation
Afkhamzadeh, A., Rahmani, K., Yaghubi, R., Ghadrdan, M. and Faraji, O. (2021), "Adverse perinatal outcomes of intimate partner violence during pregnancy", International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, Vol. 14 No. 5, pp. 465-476. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJHRH-08-2019-0067
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited