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Prevalence of violence against pregnant women in Abeokuta, Nigeria
Author(s) -
FAWOLE Adeniran Olubukola,
HUNYINBO Kehinde Isaac,
FAWOLE Olufunmilayo Ibitola
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.734
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1479-828X
pISSN - 0004-8666
DOI - 10.1111/j.1479-828x.2008.00868.x
Subject(s) - domestic violence , medicine , pregnancy , sexual violence , psychiatry , family medicine , environmental health , poison control , suicide prevention , nursing , biology , genetics
Aim: To determine the prevalence of violence to pregnant women within 12 months prior to and during the current pregnancy. Methods: Cross‐sectional study of 534 pregnant women attending three secondary and one tertiary health facility in Abeokuta, Nigeria using semistructured interviewer‐administered questionnaires. Results: Prevalence of violence within 12 months prior to pregnancy was 14.2%. Polygamous union, low level of education in both woman and partner and consumption of alcohol by partners were significant ( P < 0.05) risk factors of violence prior to pregnancy. Verbal abuse was the most common (66.2%) type of abuse. Others included flogging (10.8%), slaps (9.5%), threats of violence (6.8%) and forced sexual intercourse (2.7%). The perpetrators were often husbands (65.8%) and the parents (15.8%). Some 2.3% of pregnant women had experienced violence during current pregnancy. Low level of education was significantly ( P < 0.05) associated with experiencing violence during pregnancy. Although almost 25% of the pregnancies were unplanned, this was not significantly associated with experiencing violence ( P > 0.05). There were similarities in the perpetrators and forms of violence experienced before and during pregnancy, with partners being the most common perpetrators. Conclusion: Gender‐based violence is common in our environment. Health‐care providers should routinely screen for gender‐based violence during antenatal visits in order to protect the health of both mother and child.