Risk of miscarriage in women exposed to intimate partner violence: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Exploring the risk of miscarriage in relation to intimate partner violence (IPV), especially specific types of IPV, has received limited attention in research. This systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out to investigate the relationship between IPV and the risk of miscarriage and to explore the effect of any specific type of IPV (physical, sexual, psychological/emotional, or unspecified) on this relationship. Systematic searches were conducted using databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, and Web of Science, from inception to July 18, 2025. Observational studies (cohort, case-control, and cross-sectional) reporting on miscarriage among women exposed and not exposed to IPV were included. The methodological quality and potential risk of bias of included studies were assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal checklists. A random-effects model was used to calculate the pooled odds ratio (OR) with corresponding 95 percent confidence interval (CI) for miscarriage. This review collated the evidence from 12 studies. The overall pooled OR of 1.59 (95 percent CI: 1.10-2.30) suggests that the odds of miscarriage were 59 percent higher in women exposed to IPV than in those not exposed to IPV. Unspecified IPV, i.e. exposure to more than one type of IPV at the same time, might affect this relationship (OR: 1.68, 95 percent CI: 1.02-2.75). Maternal and child health or reproductive health services should be utilized to screen for IPV and to avoid adverse pregnancy outcome. The healthcare providers need to be sensitized in addressing this issue. Future research is important for better understanding of the relationship between IPV and miscarriage.