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Patterns of domestic violence against women during pregnancy and the postpartum period in Kathmandu, Nepal
Author(s) -
Bhatta Narayan,
Assanangkornchai Sawitri
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/appy.12342
Subject(s) - domestic violence , pregnancy , medicine , postpartum period , obstetrics , demography , logistic regression , ethnic group , public health , poison control , environmental health , injury prevention , nursing , political science , biology , sociology , genetics , law
Domestic violence during pregnancy and the postpartum period is a public health problem, which affects not only the health of the mother but also the health of the fetus and child. This study aims to examine the prevalence and patterns of domestic violence during pregnancy and the postpartum period and to identify associated factors in a Nepalese society. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a government hospital of Nepal. In each trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum period, 165 women aged 15 to 49 years were recruited. Domestic violence information was elicited using a questionnaire adapted from a World Health Organization (WHO) domestic violence against women instrument. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors of domestic violence. Results The overall prevalence of domestic violence against women during pregnancy and the postpartum period was 26.2% (17.6%, 34.6%, 32.7%, and 20.0% in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, and the postpartum period, respectively). Associated factors for domestic violence included Janjati ethnicity of the women, 2 to 5 years of married life compared with <2 years, the second and third trimesters of pregnancy compared with the first trimester, low education status of husbands, high controlling behavior of mothers‐in‐law, and previous history of domestic violence. Discussion Domestic violence during pregnancy and the postpartum period is common in Nepalese women, especially in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.