Abstract:
Background
Intimate partner violence is a thoughtful public health concern and human rights violation
towards pregnant women for it has a significant negative health effect on the life of both
the mother and her fetus. However, there is a scanty of information about the extent of
intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area.
Therefore, the current study was conducted to determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence among pregnant women attending antenatal care and identify associated
factors that cause it.
Methods
An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on 409 pregnant women who
were attending antenatal care service in Debre Markos town from March 17, 2018 –April 28,
2018. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Bivariable and Multivariable
logistic regression models were done. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was
used to identify factors associated with intimate partner violence during pregnancy.
Results
The prevalence of intimate partner violence during current pregnancy was found to be
41.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 36.0–46.0). Of this, the prevalence of psychological,
physical, and sexual violence was 29.1%, 21%, 19.8% respectively. Lower educational status of partners (AOR = 3.26, 95%CI: 1.45–7.36), rural residency (AOR = 4.04, 95%CI: 1.17–
13.93), frequent alcohol abuse by partner (AOR = 4.79, 95% CI: 2.08–11.04), early initiation
of antenatal care (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24–0.81), the age of women between 17–26 years
(Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.21, 95%CI: 0.09
