Prevalence of Domestic Violence Among Pregnant Women in Chabahar

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy can affect the prevalence of domestic violence during this period for various reasons, such as decreased sexual intercourse, misconceptions, and abnormal feelings about pregnancy. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the severity and frequency of domestic violence among pregnant women in Chabahar. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed in a random cluster sample of 400 pregnant women referred to health centers in Chabahar, southeast Iran. The Dispute Resolution Measures Questionnaire collected the data. Data were entered into the computer using SPSS version 16 software and analyzed by descriptive and analytical tests. Results: Overall, 3.5% of women experienced very mild violence, 13.5% mild violence, and 83% moderate violence during pregnancy by their husbands. There was a significant relationship between total violence and pregnant women's and husbands' education (P < 0.05). Also, elementary literacy of pregnant women (OR = 4.7, P = 0.001) and husbands (OR = 6.2, P = 0.001) increased the likelihood of domestic violence among pregnant women. Conclusions: Due to the relatively high rate of moderate domestic violence, health promotion interventions, such as educating men about various dimensions of violence and its negative impact on the family, creating a culture to strengthen the status and human values of women, and holding training sessions for married men, can help reduce violence during pregnancy.