Prevalence and Risk Factors of Domestic Violence in Primigravidae in Low Socio-Economic Areas of Hamedan, Iran

Background and Objective: Domestic violence against women is a major physical and mental health problem all across the globe. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence in pregnancy, as well as its correlation with sociodemographic and psychological characteristics. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 360 pregnant women who were referred to the health care centers of Hamedan in 2022. Data were collected through a questionnaire that consisted of three parts: sociodemographic characteristics, psychological characteristics, and the questionnaire on domestic violence (Revised Conflict Tactics Scales OR CTS2). Data analysis was performed in SPSS software (version 20) using descriptive statistics, t-test, and Chi-square. Results: The overall Prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy was 58.6%. The prevalence rates of emotional, sexual, and physical violence were obtained at 46.8%, 31.6%, and 27.7%, respectively. The level of education, occupation, wealth index, as well as alcohol and drug abuse, had a significant relationship with domestic violence (P<0.001). Domestic violence was significantly correlated with unplanned pregnancies (P<0.001), self-esteem (P<0.004), stress (P<0.001), social support (P<0.001), and prenatal depression (P<0.001). Conclusion: The results of this study pointed to a relatively high prevalence of domestic violence during pregnancy. Therefore, it is suggested that all prenatal care centers have a screening program to identify domestic violence. Moreover, it is recommended to educate health professionals and women at risk and implement support programs for injured women.