Prevalence of violence against pregnant women in Abeokuta, Nigeria.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of violence to pregnant women within 12 months prior to and during the current pregnancy.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 534 pregnant women attending three secondary and one tertiary health facility in Abeokuta, Nigeria using semistructured interviewer-administered questionnaires.


RESULTS
Prevalence of violence within 12 months prior to pregnancy was 14.2%. Polygamous union, low level of education in both woman and partner and consumption of alcohol by partners were significant (P < 0.05) risk factors of violence prior to pregnancy. Verbal abuse was the most common (66.2%) type of abuse. Others included flogging (10.8%), slaps (9.5%), threats of violence (6.8%) and forced sexual intercourse (2.7%). The perpetrators were often husbands (65.8%) and the parents (15.8%). Some 2.3% of pregnant women had experienced violence during current pregnancy. Low level of education was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with experiencing violence during pregnancy. Although almost 25% of the pregnancies were unplanned, this was not significantly associated with experiencing violence (P > 0.05). There were similarities in the perpetrators and forms of violence experienced before and during pregnancy, with partners being the most common perpetrators.


CONCLUSIONS
Gender-based violence is common in our environment. Health-care providers should routinely screen for gender-based violence during antenatal visits in order to protect the health of both mother and child.
Fawole
Adeniran Olubukola
AO
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. fawoleo@yahoo.co.uk
Hunyinbo
Kehinde Isaac
KI
Fawole
Olufunmilayo Ibitola
OI
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult