Comparison of Maternal-Fetal Attachment and Fertility Motivation in Pregnant Women With and Without Experience of Violence: Descriptive and Analytic Study

Abstract

Background and Aims

Domestic violence during pregnancy harms the mother-child bond and can affect fertility decisions. The study aims to Comparison of Maternal-Fetal Attachment and Fertility Motivation in Pregnant Women with and without Experience of Violence.

Materials and Methods

This descriptive and analytical study was conducted was conducted in 2024. A total of 292 pregnant women were selected through stratified random cluster sampling from primary healthcare of zanjan, Iran, and divided in non-violent (147) and violent (145) groups. Data collection tools were Demographic, the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), the mother's attachment to Cranley's fetus, and Miller's fertility preferences questionnaire. To analyze the data by SPSS 17, we used Chi-square test, Pearson's test, correlation coefficient, and logistic regression, with a significance level set at p-value < 0.05.

Results

Most of the women who experienced violence had a second pregnancy or more (116 out of 145). Unwanted pregnancy was almost twice as common in women who had experienced violence as in women who had not (16.1% vs 8.2%). Women who experienced violence were significantly more likely to have fewer children (χ2 = 4.693, p = 0.33). As a result of the Binary logistics regression analyses, it was determined that the variables of young age of husband (OR: 1.325; CI:1.379–3.352), law education level of the husbands (OR:1.313; CI:1.090–2.093), gravida ≥ 5 (OR:5.750; CI:1.018–32.464), low desire to have children (OR:1.882; CI: 1.035–3.420), and low Fetal Attachment (OR: 5.423; CI: 1.965–14.966) were statistically significant with violent women.

Conclusion

Domestic violence during pregnancy affects the bond between mother and fetus, as well as fertility choices. Reducing domestic violence can enhance maternal-fetal attachment and improve fertility rates.