title: Association between Intimate Partner Violence during Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Vietnam: A Prospective Cohort Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Violence against pregnant women is an increasing public health concern particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to measure the association between intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the risk of adverse birth outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study of 1276 pregnant women in Dong Anh district, Vietnam. Women with gestational age less than 24 weeks were enrolled and interviewed. Repeated interviews were performed at 30-34 weeks gestation to assess experience of IPV during pregnancy and again 48 hours post-delivery to assess the birth outcome including birth weight and gestational age at delivery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant association between exposure to physical violence during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB) or low birth weight (LBW). After adjustment for age, education, occupation, body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin level, previous adverse pregnancy outcomes, the pregnant women who were exposed to physical violence during pregnancy were five times more likely to have PTB (AOR = 5.5; 95%CI: 2.1-14.1) and were nearly six times more likely to give birth to a child of LBW (AOR = 5.7; 95%CI: 2.2-14.9) as compared to those who were not exposed to physical violence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Exposure to IPV during pregnancy increases the risk of PTB and LBW. Case-finding for violence in relation to antenatal care may help protect pregnant women and improve pregnancy outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Thanh Nguyen
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9947-047X
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Toan Ngo
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Van
authors.affiliation: Department of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tine
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gammeltoft
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: W Meyrowitsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
authors.forename: Hanh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nguyen Thi Thuy
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark.|Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasch
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014744:Vietnam; D055815:Young Adult