DISCLOSURE AND COPING WITH INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE IN PREGNANCY: A CULTURAL DILEMMA.

Background: Intimate partner violence in pregnancy (IPVP) is a serious and ubiquitous problem with cultural roots that have severe consequences on both the mother and the unborn child, and affects the general population's well-being. Understanding the dynamics of disclosure and coping strategies employed by pregnant women facing IPV is crucial for developing effective interventions and facilitating positive maternal and foetal outcomes.

Objective: The study investigated the disclosure pattern and coping strategies of Antenatal attendees who experienced IPVP.

Methods: The study was descriptive cross-sectional with mixed method data collection conducted among 400 antenatal attendees at the Ante-Natal clinics of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital. In-depth interviews were conducted among 20 antenatal attendees that experienced IPVP.

Results: The overall prevalence of IPV in pregnancy was 27.3%. Among the respondents who experienced IPV, 53.4% did not report it to anybody. Among those that reported, 29.3% reported to health workers, 20.0% reported to their parents/siblings 19.0% committed their spouse to God by praying; 74.3% said they are coping fine; 13.3% said they are managing to cope and 5.7% find it stressful coping with IPVP. Among the 20 respondents in the in-depth interviews, 25% of respondents reported to their parents, sibling, and pastors; 3% reported to in-laws and 60% did not disclose to anybody but prayed to God.

Conclusion: Awareness creation, screening of pregnant women for IPVP, the political will and effective interventions will ameliorate IPVP. This cannot be achieved without proper reporting or disclosure for intervention.

Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.