Intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy: experiences of postpartum women in Karachi, Pakistan
Fikree, F.F.; Jafarey, S.N.; Korejo, R.; Afshan, A.; Durocher, J.M.
Jpma. Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association 56(6): 252-257
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0030-9982 PMID: 16827246 Document Number: 602983
Objective: To assess the magnitude and determinants of intimate partner violence before and during pregnancy and attitude regarding domestic violence among a cohort of recently delivered women in Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A total of 300 women occupying every alternate bed in the postnatal wards of a public tertiary hospital were administered a structured questionnaire. Results: 44% of women reported lifetime marital physical abuse, 23% during the index pregnancy. Among the 132 women who were ever physically abused, all reported verbal abuse and 36% sexual coercion. The statistically significant risk factors, wife's education, consanguinity, and duration of marriage, were similar for lifetime marital abuse and during pregnancy. Over half (55%) of the women believed that antenatal care clinics were a good time to enquire about domestic violence. Conclusion: Annually an estimated one million pregnant Pakistani women are physically abused at least once during pregnancy. Reproductive health stakeholders should be encouraged to advocate for domestic violence screening.