Abuse from in-laws during pregnancy and post-partum: qualitative and quantitative findings from low-income mothers of infants in Mumbai, India.
To examine experiences of perinatal (in pregnancy or post-partum) abuse from in-laws and to assess associations between such experiences and perinatal intimate partner violence (IPV) from husbands, as reported by Indian women residing in low-income communities in Mumbai. The present study includes both qualitative and quantitative research conducted across two phases of study. The qualitative phase involved face-to-face, semi-structured in-depth interviews (n = 32) with women seeking health care for their infants (6 months or younger) and self-reporting emotional or physical abuse from their husband. The quantitative arm involved survey data collection (n = 1,038) from mothers seeking immunization for their infants 6 months or younger at three large Urban Health Centers in Mumbai. Results of the qualitative study documented the occurrence of both non-physical and physical abuse from in-laws during pregnancy and post-partum. Non-physical forms of abuse included forced heavy domestic labor, food denial and efforts toward prevention of medical care acquisition. Quantitative results demonstrated that 26.3% of the sample reported perinatal abuse (non-physical and physical) from in-laws and that women experiencing perinatal sexual or physical IPV from husbands were significantly more likely to report perinatal abuse from in-laws (AOR = 5.33, 95% CI = 3.93-7.23). Perinatal abuse from in-laws is not uncommon among women in India and may be compromising maternal and child health in this context; such abuse is also linked to perinatal violence from husbands. Programs and interventions that screen and address IPV in pregnant and post-partum populations in India should be developed to include consideration of in-laws.
Raj
Anita
A
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Mass Ave, Crosstown Building 3rd Floor, Boston, MA 02118, USA. anitaraj@bu.edu
Sabarwal
Shagun
S
Decker
Michele R
MR
Nair
Saritha
S
Jethva
Meghna
M
Krishnan
Suneeta
S
Donta
Balaiah
B
Saggurti
Niranjan
N
Silverman
Jay G
JG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000523:psychology; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology*; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult