Domestic violence during pregnancy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

To estimate the prevalence and risk groups of domestic violence during pregnancy among public health care users in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The study focuses on violence perpetrated by both women and partners.

526 women giving birth at term in public maternities from March to October 2000 were randomly selected and interviewers used the Revised Conflict Tactics Scales (CTS2).

33.8% [95% confidence interval (CI): 28.8-37.0%] of the respondents reported some form of physical violence and 16.5% (95% CI: 13.3-19.8%) referred to severe forms. A total of 78.3% (95% CI: 74.8-81.8%), 9.9% (95% CI: 7.5-12.7%) and 15.6% (95% CI: 12.6-18.9%) reported psychological aggression, sexual coercion and injuries, respectively. Physical violence mainly occurred among adolescent women with less schooling, who did not work outside the home, with fewer prenatal appointments, and with little social support. Families with more under-five children, alcohol and drug abuse, and low socio-economic status were also involved more frequently.

High prevalence rates for various forms of domestic violence in Brazil suggest that the issue should be viewed as a major public health problem.