Shohreh Shafiei1, Maryam Chegeni2,3, Sima Afrashteh4, Hamid Reza Shoraka5, Azam Bazrafshan6, Zohreh Bagherinezhad7, Masumeh Ghazanfarpour8, Hamid Sharifi9. 1. Clinical Research Development Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital , Jiroft University of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran. 2. Department of Public Health, Khomein University of Medical Sciences,, Khomein, Iran. 3. Molecular and Medicine Research Center, Khomein University of Medical Sciences, Khomein, Iran. 4. Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. 5. Department of Public Health, Esfarayen Faculty of Medical Science, Esfarayen, Iran. 6. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 7. Health Faculty, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. 8. Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 9. HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. sharifihami@gmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Violence against pregnant women is a significant public health problem, resulting in disability and various physical and mental health disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the prevalence of physical, verbal, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and other types of violence among pregnant women in Iran. METHODS: Bibliographic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus, and also Iranian databases including Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, and Civilica were searched from 2002 to September 16, 2020. Following a random-effects meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled prevalence of exposure to different types of violence among Iranian pregnant women. Overall, 61 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in this systematic review. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical violence was 19.0% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 14.0, 24.0), verbal violence was 42.0% (95% CI: 24.0, 61.0), sexual violence was 26.0% (95% CI: 20.0, 32.0), psychological violence was 37.0% (95% CI: 28.0, 46.0), emotional violence was 51.0% (95% CI: 40.0, 62.0), economic 39.0% (95% CI: 19.0, 60.0), and the prevalence of other types of violence was 54.0% (95% CI: 46.0, 62.0). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that Iranian pregnant women are often exposed to different types of violence. Therefore, screening for violence in this vulnerable group seems necessary due to the sensitive nature of pregnancy and its importance in maternal health. This alarming rate of violence calls for adopting upstream policies and interventions to reduce violent practices against pregnant women in Iran.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Violence against pregnant women is a significant public health problem, resulting in disability and various physical and mental health disorders. This systematic review and meta-analysis explored the prevalence of physical, verbal, sexual, psychological, emotional, economic, and other types of violence among pregnant women in Iran. METHODS: Bibliographic databases including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WoS), and Scopus, and also Iranian databases including Scientific Information Database (SID), Magiran, and Civilica were searched from 2002 to September 16, 2020. Following a random-effects meta-analysis, we estimated the pooled prevalence of exposure to different types of violence among Iranian pregnant women. Overall, 61 articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed in this systematic review. RESULTS: The prevalence of physical violence was 19.0% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 14.0, 24.0), verbal violence was 42.0% (95% CI: 24.0, 61.0), sexual violence was 26.0% (95% CI: 20.0, 32.0), psychological violence was 37.0% (95% CI: 28.0, 46.0), emotional violence was 51.0% (95% CI: 40.0, 62.0), economic 39.0% (95% CI: 19.0, 60.0), and the prevalence of other types of violence was 54.0% (95% CI: 46.0, 62.0). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that Iranian pregnant women are often exposed to different types of violence. Therefore, screening for violence in this vulnerable group seems necessary due to the sensitive nature of pregnancy and its importance in maternal health. This alarming rate of violence calls for adopting upstream policies and interventions to reduce violent practices against pregnant women in Iran.
Authors: Zeinab Emam M Afifi; Nouriah S Al-Muhaideb; Nina F Hadish; Faten I Ismail; Fatema M Al-Qeamy Journal: Saudi Med J Date: 2011-06 Impact factor: 1.484