Intimate partner violence and psychoemotional disturbance among pregnant women admitted to hospital with prenatal complications.

Objective: To assess intimate partner violence (IPV) and psychoemotional disturbance among pregnant women in a low-income setting.

Methods: In total, 283 pregnant women with high-risk prenatal complications were surveyed via the 20-item Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) and the Violence against Women screening tool. A total SRQ-20 score of at least 7 was defined as indicating psychoemotional disturbance.

Results: Median age of participants was 24 years, 65 (23.0%) came from marginal areas, 6 (2.1%) had no education, and 75 (26.5%) had fewer than 5 prenatal visits. Median gestational age at survey was 33 weeks, with 224 (79.2%) admitted for treatment of threatened preterm labor. Median age of partner was 27 years, and 72 (25.5%) consumed alcohol on a daily basis. Ninety-eight (34.6%) pregnant women experienced at least 1 type of physical abuse or violence during the current pregnancy. Median total SRQ-20 score was 7. Overall, 145 (51.2%) had scores of 7 or higher. Total SRQ-20 scores positively correlated with the presence of IPV (number of positive items) and parity, and inversely correlated with maternal education level and gestational age at survey.

Conclusion: IPV was highly prevalent and significantly correlated with female psychoemotional disturbance.