Intimate partner violence among pregnant women in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia: Ignored antenatal care component

Abstract Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a preventable public health problem and one of the most common types of violence against pregnant women which could be a cause of perinatal and maternal morbidities and mortalities. Screening for IPV during pregnancy provides an important window of opportunity for identifying pregnant women experiencing/ed IPV. Objectives: The study aimed to assess the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and associated factors among the pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic in Addis Abeba Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women attending ANC in selected health centers in Addis Abeba from the 1st of February 2019 to 30th of March 2019. A standardized validated WHO questionnaire was used to collect the data and it was analyzed by SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyze the socio-demographic, prevalence of IPV, and chi-square and logistic regression with a P-value ≤ 0.05. Results: Current and index pregnancy prevalence of intimate partner violence against pregnant women were found to be 55.7% (95% CI: 50.6-60.8) and 56.5% (95% CI: 51.4-61.5) respectively. Psychological violence was the most common form [53.4% (95%CI: 48.3-58.5)] followed by physical [13.5 %( 95% CI: 10.3-17.4)] then sexual violence 6.5 (95% CI: 4.3-9.5) during index pregnancy. The most frequent coexisted type of IPV during index pregnancy was psychological and physical which was 10.7% (95% CI: 7.8-14.2) followed by psychological and sexual 6.2 %( 95% CI: 4.0-9.2) Pregnant women who had primary level education (AOR 1.23(1.00-2.50)) and secondary level education (AOR 2.00(1.01-3.96)), women who had their first antenatal care (ANC) booking in the second trimester were about 1.7 times (AOR 1.74(1.2-2.85)) were more likely to experience IPV. Partner problematic alcohol consumption [AOR 4.36 (1.73-10.998)] P=0.001), Khat chewing [AOR 2.4(1.11-5.28)], partner educational level being primary [AOR 7.02 (3.29-15.2)] and secondary 5 times (2.38-11.45) and, history of IPV before pregnancy were independently associated with increased risk of intimate partner violence during the index pregnancy. Conclusion & Recommendation: More than half of the pregnant women during the index and current pregnancy experienced at least one form of IPV. Women's and partners’ education status, gestational age at ANC booking, and partner's problematic alcohol drinking and khat chewing habits were independent determinants of intimate partner violence during pregnancy. We recommend health service providers should implement the WHO's clinical guidelines for IPV screening amongst women attending antenatal care since IPV is more prevalent.