Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh

Background: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), a gross violation of human rights, ranges widely across the world with higher prevalence reported in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence related mainly to physical health shows that IPV has both direct and indirect impacts on wome...

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Main Authors: Zarina N. Kabir, Hashima-E Nasreen, Maigun Edhborg
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2014-09-01
Series:Global Health Action
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24725/pdf_1
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author Zarina N. Kabir
Hashima-E Nasreen
Maigun Edhborg
author_facet Zarina N. Kabir
Hashima-E Nasreen
Maigun Edhborg
author_sort Zarina N. Kabir
collection DOAJ
description Background: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), a gross violation of human rights, ranges widely across the world with higher prevalence reported in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence related mainly to physical health shows that IPV has both direct and indirect impacts on women's health. Little is known about the impact of IPV on the mental health of women, particularly after childbirth. Objective: To describe the prevalence of IPV experienced by women 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh and the factors associated with physical IPV. The study also aims to investigate the association between IPV and maternal depressive symptoms after childbirth. Design: The study used cross-sectional data at 6–8 months postpartum. The sample included 660 mothers of newborn children. IPV was assessed by physical, emotional, and sexual violence. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale assessed maternal depressive symptoms. Results: Prevalence of physical IPV was 52%, sexual 65%, and emotional 84%. The husband's education (OR: 0.41, CI: 0.23–0.73), a poor relationship with the husband (OR: 2.64, CI: 1.07–6.54), and emotional violence by spouse (OR: 1.58, CI: 1.35–1.83) were significantly associated with physical IPV experienced by women. The perception of a fussy and difficult child (OR: 1.05, CI: 1.02–1.08), a poor relationship with the husband (OR: 4.95, CI: 2.55–9.62), and the experience of physical IPV (OR: 2.83, CI: 1.72–4.64) were found to be significant predictors of maternal depressive symptoms among women 6–8 months after childbirth. Neither forced sex nor emotional violence by an intimate partner was found to be significantly associated with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months postpartum. Conclusions: It is important to screen for both IPV and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Since IPV and spousal relationships are the most important predictors of maternal depressive symptoms in this study, couple-focused interventions at the community level are suggested.
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spelling doaj.art-86aa390bb42c4d3282ac89aceb99411e2022-12-22T00:03:15ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802014-09-01701710.3402/gha.v7.2472524725Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural BangladeshZarina N. Kabir0Hashima-E Nasreen1Maigun Edhborg2 Division of Nursing, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Community Medicine, Kulliyyah of Medicine, International Islamic University Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Formerly Research and Evaluation Division, BRAC, Dhaka, BangladeshBackground: The prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV), a gross violation of human rights, ranges widely across the world with higher prevalence reported in low- and middle-income countries. Evidence related mainly to physical health shows that IPV has both direct and indirect impacts on women's health. Little is known about the impact of IPV on the mental health of women, particularly after childbirth. Objective: To describe the prevalence of IPV experienced by women 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh and the factors associated with physical IPV. The study also aims to investigate the association between IPV and maternal depressive symptoms after childbirth. Design: The study used cross-sectional data at 6–8 months postpartum. The sample included 660 mothers of newborn children. IPV was assessed by physical, emotional, and sexual violence. The Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale assessed maternal depressive symptoms. Results: Prevalence of physical IPV was 52%, sexual 65%, and emotional 84%. The husband's education (OR: 0.41, CI: 0.23–0.73), a poor relationship with the husband (OR: 2.64, CI: 1.07–6.54), and emotional violence by spouse (OR: 1.58, CI: 1.35–1.83) were significantly associated with physical IPV experienced by women. The perception of a fussy and difficult child (OR: 1.05, CI: 1.02–1.08), a poor relationship with the husband (OR: 4.95, CI: 2.55–9.62), and the experience of physical IPV (OR: 2.83, CI: 1.72–4.64) were found to be significant predictors of maternal depressive symptoms among women 6–8 months after childbirth. Neither forced sex nor emotional violence by an intimate partner was found to be significantly associated with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months postpartum. Conclusions: It is important to screen for both IPV and depressive symptoms during pregnancy and postpartum. Since IPV and spousal relationships are the most important predictors of maternal depressive symptoms in this study, couple-focused interventions at the community level are suggested.http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24725/pdf_1intimate partner violencemental healthSouth AsiaBangladeshmaternal depression
spellingShingle Zarina N. Kabir
Hashima-E Nasreen
Maigun Edhborg
Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
Global Health Action
intimate partner violence
mental health
South Asia
Bangladesh
maternal depression
title Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
title_full Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
title_fullStr Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
title_short Intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6–8 months after childbirth in rural Bangladesh
title_sort intimate partner violence and its association with maternal depressive symptoms 6 8 months after childbirth in rural bangladesh
topic intimate partner violence
mental health
South Asia
Bangladesh
maternal depression
url http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/download/24725/pdf_1
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AT maigunedhborg intimatepartnerviolenceanditsassociationwithmaternaldepressivesymptoms68monthsafterchildbirthinruralbangladesh