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Physical violence during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa: why it matters and who are most susceptible?

Publisher:
BMJ
Publication Type:
Journal Article
Citation:
BMJ Open, 2023, 13, (6), pp. e059236
Issue Date:
2023-06
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Abstract:
OBJECTIVE The study assessed the prevalence of physical violence against pregnant women and its associated factors in sub Saharan Africa SSA DESIGN We analysed cross sectional data of 108971 women in sexual unions from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys of 26 countries in SSA The predictors of physical violence were examined using a multilevel binary logistic regression All the results were presented as adjusted odds ratios aORs with their corresponding 95 confidence intervals CIs SETTING Twenty six countries in SSA PARTICIPANTS 108 971 women who had ever been pregnant OUTCOME MEASURE Physical violence during pregnancy RESULTS Physical violence was identified in 6 0 of pregnant women in SSA The highest prevalence 14 0 was reported in South Africa while Burkina Faso recorded the lowest 2 1 Women who had primary aOR 1 26 95 CI 1 15 1 38 and secondary education aOR 1 15 95 CI 1 01 1 32 those who were cohabiting aOR 1 21 95 CI 1 11 1 32 those who were working aOR 1 17 95 CI 1 08 1 28 and those whose partners had primary aOR 1 15 95 CI 1 04 1 28 and secondary education aOR 1 14 95 CI 1 01 1 28 were more likely to experience physical violence during pregnancy compared with those who had no formal education those who were married those who were not working and those whose partners had no formal education respectively Moreover women whose partners consumed alcohol aOR 2 37 95 CI 2 20 2 56 those who had parity of four or more aOR 2 06 95 CI 1 57 2 72 and those who perceived intimate partner violence IPV as a culturally accepted norm aOR 1 55 95 CI 1 44 1 67 had higher odds of experiencing physical violence during pregnancy compared to those whose partners did not consume alcohol those with parity zero and those who did not perceive IPV as culturally accepted respectively On the contrary women who were aged 35 39 those who were of the richest wealth index and those in rural areas had reduced odds of experiencing physical violence during pregnancy CONCLUSION Based
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://hdl.handle.net/10453/179096

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