Effect of domestic violence on pregnancy outcome

To determine the causes and type of domestic violence endured by pregnant women and their effect on pregnancy, in terms of maternal and neonatal outcome.

Cohort study.

The study was conducted in Sir Syed Trust Hospital, Karachi, from March 2007 to February 2008.

All the antenatal patients were screened for domestic violence, using a self-made questionnaire and abuse assessment screen. All the pregnant patients, who had language barrier or those who declined to be interviewed were excluded. All the pregnant patients with positive response, according to the abuse assessment screen were included in the group A, while every 4th patient with negative response was taken as control. SPSS 10 was used for statistical analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the effect of domestic violence on delivery outcome. Relative risk was also calculated. Statistical significance was taken at p (2) 0.05.

Four hundred and ten (n=410) antenatal patients were interviewed. The factors associated with domestic violence included addiction in 32 (39%), allegedly aggressive nature of husband in 21 (25.6%) and unemployment of husband in 6 (7.31%) cases (p=0.001). Fifty two per cent women had been victims to more than one form of violence. Antenatal complications were not observed in a statistically significant number in either group. Depression was identified in 25.60% of group A and in 3.65% of group B (p=0.001; RR=2.01; 95%CI=1.58-2.56).

Various factors leading to domestic violence were identified among the husbands of women subjected to violence during pregnancy. The differences between the two groups, with regard to neonatal outcome (except depression), did not reach statistical significance. However, depression was significantly higher in the women enduring violence.