Effects of Unplanned Pregnancy on the Initiation of Intimate Partner Violence in Southeast Iran

Abstract Background:Violence during pregnancy may lead to pregnancy complications or adverse birth outcomes or other serious reproductive events. Unplanned pregnancy can lead to a wide range of physical and psychological consequences for mother and child and affects different aspects­ of social, economic and cultural health. The aim of study is to find if unplanned pregnancy can cause intimate partner violence. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive research was carried out with available sampling on 300 eligible women (150 with unplanned pregnancy and 150 with planned pregnancy) who referred ­to health care centers in, Kerman, Iran in 2021. Iranian version of domestic violence questionnaire and spss­22 were used for data collection and analysis. Results: The mean age, and age difference with spouse were 29.77±7.06 years, and 4.31±3.03 years respectively. The majority of women (28%) had a diploma, were housewives (69.65%). Comparing domestic violence in unplanned pregnancy group showed that the overall amount of violence during pregnancy (60.64±30.51) was higher than before pregnancy (51.83±25.02) and this difference was significant (p<0.05). the overall mean score of domestic violence in the group with unplanned pregnancy (60.64±30.51) is higher than the group with planned pregnancy (51.35±26.99) (p<0.05). we see that the difference in the mean score of the psychological dimension in unplanned pregnancy (14.23±6.03) and the group of planned pregnancy (10.57±5.32) is statistically significant (p<0.05). Also, the mean score of patriarchal beliefs in the group with unplanned pregnancy (36.93±20.58) during pregnancy is higher than the group with planned pregnancy (31.48±18.43) (p<0.05) Conclusion: Results showed that all of the domestic violence which started with the beginning of unplanned pregnancy, were in low level except psychological and patriarchic beliefs parts. Onset of violence because of unplanned pregnancy can harm mother and child health significantly and needs urgent interventions.