Assessment of prevalence, outcome and factors related to domestic physical violence in pregnant women referring to delivery departments of Sanandaj hospitals

Domestic violence has been recognized as a public cultural and health issue that can affect pregnancy through direct or indirect mechanisms. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence, related factors and outcome of physical domestic violence against pregnant women in Sanandaj hospitals. This cross-sectional study included 840 pregnant women who had been selected by systematic random sampling and hospitalized for termination of pregnancy (labor or abortion). Data were collected from constructional interview and labor documents. Consequences of domestic violence included LBW, PROM, abortion, preterm labor and still birth. The results were analyzed through descriptive and analytical tests. The prevalence of physical domestic violence during pregnancy was 8.5%. Most cases were housewives (p<0.05) and of low economic status (p<0.01). Regarding their husbands, low education (p<0.03), unemployment, smoking, drug abuse (p=0.000) and alcohol drinking (p<0.01) had significant relationships with the prevalence of domestic violence. Cultural differences and shotgun wedding (p<0.01) were associated with higher rates of physical domestic violence during pregnancy. Women who had experienced such aggression were more likely to have premature rupture of membranes and abortion. Routine screening for domestic violence in pregnancy and educational measures to convince the men to change their violent conduct, empowerment of the women and reforming the defective cultural structure of the society should be taken into consideration.