Qom University of Medical Sciences Journal

Background and Objectives

Intimate partner abuse during pregnancy is a major problem associated with a variety of negative health outcomes. However, this relationship has not been adequately explored, especially in the developing countries.

The present study seeks to determine the relationship between of intimate partner abuse and reproductive health outcome among pregnant women attending Gachsaran Hospitals in 2007.

Methods

This is a correlation descriptive study performed on 500 pregnant women attending Gachsaran hospitals chosen by convenience sampling. The data collecting instrument was a questionnaire which was completed by the researchers and consisted of the section: demographic characteristics of samples and their partners, questions related to abuse screening and information of health outcome. Validity and reliability of the tool were respectively established using content validity and test-retest technique.

Results

The findings of this study indicated that 48/6% of women during pregnancy had suffered abuse from their husbands and there were significant correlations between abuse and unwanted pregnancy, inadequate prenatal visit, short birth interval, lack of use of contraceptive methods  and delay in the initiation of breast feeding. (>p0.05 ).

Conclusion

According to the results of this study, intimate partner abuse can negatively affect reproductive health of pregnant women. It is therefore, necessary to detect cases of intimate partner violence at a primary health care level.