title: Social support and intimate partner violence during pregnancy among women attending antenatal care in Moshi Municipality, Northern Tanzania.
abstract: Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) is a significant public health problem with negative health consequences for women and their pregnancies. While social support has a protective effect against IPV and reduces health consequences of violence, its association with experiencing IPV during pregnancy remain less explored. In our study we aimed to determine the effect of social support on IPV during pregnancy among women attending antenatal care in Moshi, Tanzania METHODS: The study was part of a prospective cohort study that assessed the impact of violence on reproductive health of 1,116 participants. Pregnant women were enrolled below 24 weeks of gestation and followed until delivery. The experiences of social support and IPV during pregnancy were assessed at the 34thweek of gestation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between social support and IPV, with adjustment for potential confounders.
  
  
  
  The prevalence of IPV during pregnancy was 30.3% where the majority (29.0%) experienced repeated episodes of abuse. Regarding practical social support, having no one to help financially was associated with increased odds of IPV and repeated episodes of abuse during pregnancy, AOR 3.57, (95% CI 1.85 - 6.90) and AOR 3.21, (95% CI 1.69 - 6.11) respectively. For social support in terms of communication, talking to a member of the family of origin at least monthly was associated with decreased odds of IPV and repeated episodes of IPV during pregnancy, AOR 0.46 (95% CI 0.26 - 0.82) and AOR 0.41 (95% CI 0.23 - 0.73) respectively. Perceiving that family of origin will not offer support was associated with a increased odds of IPV and repeated episodes of IPV, AOR 2.29, (95% CI 1.31 - 3.99) and AOR 2.14, (95% CI 1.23 - 3.74) respectively.
  
  
  
  Nearly one third of women experienced IPV during pregnancy. Social support to women is associated with decreased odds of experiencing IPV during pregnancy. The family of origin plays an important role in providing social support to women who experience abuse during pregnancy; however, their true involvement in mitigating the impact of violence in the African setting needs further research.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania. gnimrody@yahoo.com.|Department of Health, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Arusha, Tanzania. gnimrody@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Geofrey Nimrod
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Sigalla
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Vibeke
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rasch
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 Wolf
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Meyrowitsch
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rogathi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.|Department of Community Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manongi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania.
authors.forename: Declare
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mushi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D037841:Pregnant People / Q000523:psychology*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013636:Tanzania / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Intimate partner violence; Pregnancy; Social support; Tanzania