Prevalence and factors associated with domestic violence: Study in a high-risk maternity hospital

Abstract

Objective: to describe the prevalence of domestic violence among postpartum women treated at a high-risk maternity hospital, and to examine the association of these conditions with the demographic, socioeconomic and reproductive variables. Method: cross-sectional study, carried out with 302 postpartum women. The data were collected through interviews from a structured script with questions about the characterization of the participants and an instrument to identify violence, the Abuse Assessment Screen. Results: among the interviewees, 43% reported experiencing mistreatment throughout their lives, 7.6% were victims of physical violence in the last year, and 4.6% were in a situation of physical violence during their pregnancy. Women aged between 31-43 years old (PR: 1.5; 1.1-2.1), having three or more gestations (PR: 1.8; 95% IC: 1.2-2.7) and evangelical women (PR: 1.6 95% CI: 1.1-2.3) more often experienced mistreatment in life. The absence of a partner was associated with a history of physical violence in the last year and during gestation (p<0.05). Conclusion: this study reaffirms that violence is a phenomenon that is present in women’s lives, including during the gestational period, and it has been associated with the demographic and obstetric condition of the woman. DESCRIPTORS: Violence against women.