IJCM_9A: Violence among pregnant women attending a secondary care maternity hospital, Ramnagara Taluk, Solur– A Cross-Sectional study.

Abstract

Background: According to NFHS 5 data, 3.1% of pregnant women in India suffer from domestic violence. Domestic violence in pregnant women can lead to unfavourable effect on physical, mental and emotional health of women, not only women, the growing fetus is also affected. Objectives: i) To assess the prevalence of violence among pregnant women in a private secondary level hospital in Solur, Ramnagara. ii) To assess the factors associated with violence among the study population. Methodology: All pregnant women of age group 18-40 years availing services at the out-patient department of the Snehalaya Hospital, Solur except those who were in labour or having serious medical emergency irrespective of gestational age were included in the study. Our sample size were 384 pregnant women in Solur. Study period were from November 2022 to February 2023 with the help of validated interview guide domestic violence among pregnant women has been assessed and data collected using Epicollect 5®. Chi-square test for association was done to identify associations, if any. Results: In the study, antenatal women who experienced violence were 146 out of 384 (38%). Of these, the distribution of cases were as follows: psychological violence – 114 (29.6%), physical violence – 19 (4.9%), sexual violence – 5 (1.3%) and economical violence – 75 (19.5%). Factors associated with violence were husband’s alcoholic addiction, higher age of pregnant women, higher education and unemployed pregnant women, multigravida and middle class family (Chi-square test, P< 0.05). Conclusion: In the study, 1/3rd of pregnant women were suffering from domestic violence. Early identification of domestic violence during the antenatal clinics and providing proper counseling to husband and family members regarding later consequences to mother and child due to violence can improve maternal and child health in future.