Abstract

Introduction: Domestic violence during pregnancy is a major public health problem in all countries. The aim of this study is to investigate domestic violence and factors affecting pregnancy.

Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 747 pregnant women who presented to an outpatient clinic at a maternity hospital in a city in southeastern Türkiye between December 15, 2014 and January 15, 2015. To collect the data, the researchers developed a 25-item questionnaire based on the literature. In the statistical analysis, percentages, means, standard deviations, and chi-square analysis were used, and a value of p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 26.43±5.4. Of these participants, 7.2% of them reported being physically, emotionally, financially, or sexually abused by their spouse during their marriage, and 2.8% reported being exposed to violence during their current pregnancy. It was found that there was a strong relationship between violence during pregnancy and at the time when the woman wanted to get pregnant, the husband’s involvement in violence, the number of pregnancies, and the history of violence from the husband’s family. To stop violence, families should get training, counseling, family therapy, and help to learn communication.

Conclusion: Violence during pregnancy can be caused by a number of factors, such as being exposed to violence during pregnancy, not wanting to get pregnant, the husband’s involvement in violence, the number of pregnancies, and the history of violence from the husband’s family.