Intimate Partner Violence Disclosure and Associated Factors Among Pregnant Women Attending a City Hospital in South-Western Uganda: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy-associated Intimate Partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem in Uganda impacting on maternal and newborn health outcomes adversely. However, IPV disclosure and related factors among gravid women have remained poorly documented in southwestern Uganda. Methods: In a cross-sectional design, 283 women attending Mbarara City Hospital Antenatal Clinic (ANC) were recruited into the study. The current analysis included 199 women reporting emotional, physical and sexual violence experiences through the present pregnancy. Results: Of the 199 (70.3%) women who experienced IPV, 99(49.7%) disclosed it to someone. Majority (66.7%) disclosed IPV to their family of birth, 55.5% to friends, 35.3% to husband’s family member, 12.1% to neighbors, 9.1% to the healthcare providers, 8.1% to religious leaders, and 3.1% to police. Gravidity, OR= 1.9[95%CI: 1.07-3.31, p=0.027], parity OR=1.9[95%CI: 1.08-3.34, p=0.026] and witnessed IPV OR: 5.4[95%CI: 1.93-14.96; p=0.001] were significantly associated with IPV disclosure. Conclusion: Half the participants disclosed their IPV experience. Majority of the women disclosed to their female family of birth and very few to healthcare workers. These findings point to the need for healthcare providers to routinely screen for IPV during antenatal care if a high IPV disclosure rate is to be achieved.