Violence against women before and during gestation: differences in prevalence rates and perpetrators

Marizélia Rodrigues Costa Ribeiro,Bianca Portela Teles Pessoa,Galvani Ascar Sauaia,Rosângela Fernandes Lucena Batista,Joana Athayde Da Silva Cruz,Antônio Augusto Moura Da Silva,Rejane Christine De Sousa Queiroz,Lilia Blima Schraiber

doi:10.1590/1806-93042020000200010

Abstract

Abstract Objectives: to analyze differences in prevalence and perpetrators of violence against women before and during pregnancy. Methods: this is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 1,446 pregnant women interviewed in 2010 and 2011 in the São Luís municipality (Brazil). Thirteen questions measured psychological, physical and sexual violence in the 12 months before and during pregnancy. Psychological/physical/sexual violence was defined as any type of violence perpetrated against the interviewees. The perpetrators were categorized into intimate partner, other family members, community members, and multiple perpetrators. Differences between violence before and during pregnancy were analyzed by the chi-square test. Results: psychological/physical/sexual and psychological violence were more prevalent during pregnancy than before gestation (p<0.001). Insults, humiliation and intimidation (p<0.05) were more frequently reported during pregnancy. An intimate partner was the most frequent perpetrator. There were no differences in the percentage of moderate and severe forms of physical violence and sexual violence, recurrence of aggressions and perpetrators in both periods (p>0.05). Conclusions: gestation did not protect users of prenatal services in São Luís municipality from psychological, physical and sexual violence. Psychological/physical/sexual and psychological violence were more commonly practiced during pregnancy. The perpetrators of violence in the year before gestation continued to abuse the interviewees during pregnancy

Highlights

IntroductionViolence against women is considered a public health problem and a human rights violation because they may be a threat to the lives, health and development of women and their children.[1,2] It has been defined by the Inter-American Conventionas any threat or act of gender-based violence that causes or appears to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to the woman, whether it occurs in the family environment or at other public spaces.[3]It is estimated that up to 59% of women from different socioeconomic status and cultures will be subjected to violence at least once in their lives,[4] including during pregnancy, when women are expected to minimally expose themselves to risks that could compromise maternal and child health.Results from the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women (WHO VAW) showed that violence against pregnant women ranged from 1% in Japan to 28% in a province in Peru
It is estimated that up to 59% of women from different socioeconomic status and cultures will be subjected to violence at least once in their lives,[4] including during pregnancy, when women are expected to minimally expose themselves to risks that could compromise maternal and child health.Results from the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women (WHO VAW) showed that violence against pregnant women ranged from 1% in Japan to 28% in a province in Peru
Psychological/physical/sexual and psychological violence were more frequent during pregnancy than in the 12 months preceding gestation

Summary

Introduction

Violence against women is considered a public health problem and a human rights violation because they may be a threat to the lives, health and development of women and their children.[1,2] It has been defined by the Inter-American Conventionas any threat or act of gender-based violence that causes or appears to result in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to the woman, whether it occurs in the family environment or at other public spaces.[3]It is estimated that up to 59% of women from different socioeconomic status and cultures will be subjected to violence at least once in their lives,[4] including during pregnancy, when women are expected to minimally expose themselves to risks that could compromise maternal and child health.Results from the WHO Multi-Country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence against Women (WHO VAW) showed that violence against pregnant women ranged from 1% in Japan to 28% in a province in Peru. Violence during pregnancy is often a continuation of past maltreatment.[6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13] It is not clear whether gestation would protect women from violence or its types.[6,7,9,10] Among nine articles analyzed in a systematic review, the aggressions suffered before gestation continued in 31.3% to 69.2% of the cases and ceased in 30.8% to 68.7% of them.[6] Two Brazilian studies showed that the chance of violence by an intimate partner occurring during pregnancy was more than times higher when there were reports of maltreatment in the months precedinggestation.[12,13] Another study that interviewed women during the postpartum period in the Brazilian cities of São Paulo and Recife (State of Pernambuco) observed a decrease of physical violence during pregnancy in both cities, an increase in psychological violence in the city of Recife, and similar rates of sexual violence in both locations.[14]

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