Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Status During Pregnancy: A Survey among Pregnant Women in Calabar, Nigeria

Authors

  • Omoronyia, Ogban1 ; Ayuk, Agam2 ; Nwafor, Kenneth3 ; Legogie, Annette3

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i11.11380

Keywords:

Intimate Partner Violence, Pregnancy, Anxiety, Depression

Abstract

Human pregnancy should be a safe and rewarding physiological process. However, violence-mediated
distress may contribute to adverse fetomaternal effects. This study aimed at assessing relationship between
intimate partner violence (IPV) and mental health status of pregnant women in Calabar, Nigeria. Composite
Abuse Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaires were used to assess IPV and anxiety
and depression, respectively. Of 250 respondents surveyed randomly, 54.8% had at least one of the three types
of abuse within the last 12 months, with common combination being psychological abuse only (16.4%), all
three types of abuse (15.6%), and psychological and sexual abuse (10.8%). Anxiety and/or depression which
was found in 48.0%, was more prevalent among respondents that suffered psychological (57.0% vs. 38.5%),
sexual (64.4% vs. 41.2%), and physical (64.2% vs. 42.1%) types of abuse (p<0.05). Findings suggest need
to redouble effort at integration of gender into reproductive health in developing countries.

Author Biography

  • Omoronyia, Ogban1 ; Ayuk, Agam2 ; Nwafor, Kenneth3 ; Legogie, Annette3

    1
    Lecturer, Department of Community Medicine, University of Calabar, Nigeria, 2Lecturer, Department of Family
    Medicine, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria, 3
    Tutor, Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar,
    Calabar, Nigeria

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Published

2020-10-21

How to Cite

Association between Intimate Partner Violence and Mental Health Status During Pregnancy: A Survey among Pregnant Women in Calabar, Nigeria. (2020). Indian Journal of Public Health Research & Development, 11(11), 248-254. https://doi.org/10.37506/ijphrd.v11i11.11380