Experience of domestic violence in pregnancy and the proffered solutions in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

Objective: Domestic violence (DV) is a major public health concern with profound emotional, psychological, and medical consequences for women and their families. This study assessed the prevalence, associated factors, and proffered solutions to domestic violence in pregnancy (DVP) among married women in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 447 pregnant married women attending antenatal care at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered, pretested questionnaire (with supplementary validated tools) and analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics (version 22.0). Descriptive and inferential statistics were applied, with significance set at P < 0.05.

Results: The prevalence of DVP was 27.1%. Husbands or intimate partners were the main perpetrators (66.2%). Emotional/psychological abuse was the most common form of violence (60.3%), while sexual abuse was least reported. On multivariable logistic regression, factors independently associated with DVP included rural residence, maternal age ≥ 30 years, lower maternal educational status, and partners with tertiary education or social habits such as alcohol use, infidelity, and keeping late nights (P < 0.05). Most respondents (40.2%) believed prayer was the solution, while 31.1% felt no solution existed.

Conclusion: Domestic violence in pregnancy remains prevalent in Enugu, Nigeria with emotional abuse being most frequent. The reliance on prayer or resignation as "solutions" reflects deep-rooted cultural and religious influences. Routine screening during antenatal care, coupled with culturally sensitive counseling, referral pathways, and community-based interventions, is urgently needed to address the burden and prevent associated complications.