Prevalence of intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending a public sector hospital in Bengaluru, southern India

Background. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized as an important public health problem globally as well as in India. It may result in adverse physical and mental health consequences for the victim or unfavourable pregnancy outcomes if it happens during pregnancy. The possible risk factors for IPV can be explained by four levels of ecological factors: individual, partner, household and community. We estimated the prevalence of IPV and its association with selected ecological risk factors among pregnant women availing of antenatal care at a public sector hospital in Bengaluru, southern India. Methods. We included 350 women above the age of 18 years with a confirmed pregnancy of less than 24 weeks and having no obstetric complication. We used the Conflict Tactics Scale to determine the presence of IPV. The risk factors measured were-individual level: respondent's age, education, occupation, gravidity, planned or unplanned pregnancy, substance abuse, presence of depression and anxiety; partner-related: spouse's education, occupation and marital discord; household/community-related: socioeconomic status, social support, religion and consanguinity. Results. The prevalence of IPV was 3.7%. Factors that were significantly associated on multivariate analysis were higher age (above 20 years) (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.82 [1.12-2.97], p=0.016) and presence of depression (AOR 6.84 [1.76-26.61], p=0.005). Conclusion. The prevalence of IPV was less in our study population compared to figures reported from other Indian study settings.

Automated summary

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of IPV and its association with selected ecological risk factors among pregnant women availing antenatal care at a public sector hospital in Bengaluru, southern India. The prevalence of IPV was 3.7%, with higher age and presence of depression being significantly associated risk factors on multivariate analysis.