Reham Elkhateeb1, Ayman Abdelmeged1, Samar Ahmad1, Ahmad Mahran1, Walaa Yehia Abdelzaher2, Nermeen N Welson3, Yahea Al-Zahrani4, Ahmed Mohammed Alhuwaydi5, Haitham Ahmed Bahaa1. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, 61511, Egypt. 2. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of medicine, Minia university, Minia, Egypt. 3. Department of Forensic medicine and clinical toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, 62511, Egypt. nermeennemr@yahoo.com. 4. Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia. 5. Saudi Board in Psychiatry, assistant professor at College of Medicine, Jouf University, Sakaka, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is a common problem that is related to many serious short-term and long-term health hazards around the world. METHODS: During obtaining the medical history from the participants, the questions used to assess the abuse were derived from the widely used Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Potential risk factors including a variety of socio-demographic and reproductive health-relation indicators were assessed. The influence of violence on the pregnancy outcome was determined by the continuous follow-up till giving birth. RESULTS: 513 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of violence among them was 50.8%. The prevalence of physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse was 30.2, 20, 41.7, and 45.4% respectively. Exposure to violence during pregnancy had significant effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome in the form of development of vaginal infection (P-value =0.036), vaginal bleeding (P-value = 0.008), preterm labour (P-value = 0.003), premature rupture of membrane (P-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Violence against pregnant women in Minia Governorate, Egypt is common especially emotional violence and it has many adverse effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome. One of the most important risk factors is the fear of the husband which makes violence a continuous vicious circle.
BACKGROUND: Domestic violence is a common problem that is related to many serious short-term and long-term health hazards around the world. METHODS: During obtaining the medical history from the participants, the questions used to assess the abuse were derived from the widely used Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS). Potential risk factors including a variety of socio-demographic and reproductive health-relation indicators were assessed. The influence of violence on the pregnancy outcome was determined by the continuous follow-up till giving birth. RESULTS: 513 pregnant women were included. The prevalence of violence among them was 50.8%. The prevalence of physical, sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse was 30.2, 20, 41.7, and 45.4% respectively. Exposure to violence during pregnancy had significant effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome in the form of development of vaginal infection (P-value =0.036), vaginal bleeding (P-value = 0.008), preterm labour (P-value = 0.003), premature rupture of membrane (P-value = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Violence against pregnant women in Minia Governorate, Egypt is common especially emotional violence and it has many adverse effects on the women and their pregnancy outcome. One of the most important risk factors is the fear of the husband which makes violence a continuous vicious circle.