Characteristics of women who have suffered from violence during pregnancy

Uterine Penetrating Wounds in Pregnant Women-Review and Case Study

Introduction: Uterine penetrating wounds in pregnant women are rare. Usually, they are caused by traffic accidents, but sometimes they are an effect of violence, accidental injuries, or deliberate self-harm. Case Report: We present a case of a stab wound to the uterus in a 25-year-old woman in the 37th week of pregnancy, which was the result of a knife attack. Emergency splenectomy and cesarean section were performed less than an hour after the attack. The child required resuscitation and long-term intensive therapy. Both the woman and the newborn survived; however, the newborn's condition remained poor. The child died a few months later, according to community-acquired pneumonia. Discussion: Cases of wounds penetrating the uterus have been described for many years around the world. They are often the result of violence, most often from the partner. Statistically, pregnant women are more likely to be victims of violence. Sometimes, the wounds penetrating the uterus are accidental and arise, for example, as a result of a fall. A rare but not isolated case is self-mutilation to terminate a pregnancy. Women often inflict such injuries on themselves using sharp tools, sometimes firearms. There are also cases of another person helping to terminate a pregnancy in this way. Conclusions: Violence against women, including pregnant women, remains a significant social problem in all regions of the world and poses a challenge to uniformed services, medical professions, and social services. Regardless of the mechanism of injury, in the event of an imminent threat to the life of the mother and fetus, it is crucial to make quick decisions aimed at saving lives.

Intimate Partner Violence, prevalence and its consequences: a community-based study in Gambella, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction

Intimate partner violence is defined as any behavior by a current or past male intimate partner during marriage, cohabitation, or any other formal or informal union that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. Men are the most common perpetrators of this against women. It affects almost one-third of all women worldwide.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prevalence, consequences, and factors associated with intimate partner violence among partnered women in Gambella town.

Methods

A community-based, cross-sectional study design was employed. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data was collected using a pretested, structured questionnaire. The data were entered and analyzed using SPSS software version 25. The bivariate and multivariate logistic regression method was used to identify factors associated with intimate partner violence. Variables with a p-value <0.05 were considered significantly associated with intimate partner violence.

Results

The overall prevalence of intimate partner violence in the lifetime and the last 12 months was 58.8, 95% CI (54.0, 63.6), and 51.8, 95% CI (46.7, 56.8), respectively. More than half (53.3%) of the violence resulted in physical injury, while 32.9% were separated from their partners whereas, mother's history of exposure to IPV [AOR: 1.8, 95% CI (1.03-3.27), p < 0.05], respondent's age [AOR: 3.4, 95% CI (1.8, 6.5), p < 0.001], substance use [AOR:2.5, 95% CI (1.5-4.1), p < 0.001], disagreement on sexual intercourse [AOR:3.2, 95% CI (1.8-5.7), p < 0.01], monthly family income [AOR:0.32, 95% CI: (0.16-0.63), p < 0.01] and family size [AOR:2.8, 95% CI: (1.6-4.8), p < 0.01] were significantly associated with IPV.

Conclusion

The study indicated that the prevalence of intimate partner violence was very high. Age of the woman, family size, substance use, economic status, were among factors significantly associated with intimate partner violence. Therefore, responsible stakeholders should respond to the deep-rooted and highly complicated gender inequality by implementing preventive measures.

The Influence of Intimate Partner Violence on Pregnancy Symptoms

The current literature contains few studies conducted on the effects of intimate partner violence (IPV) on pregnancy symptoms. Does being subjected to IPV during pregnancy increase the incidence of pregnancy-related symptoms? The aim of the present study was to explore the impact of IPV on pregnancy-related symptoms. The study was conducted as comparative, descriptive, and cross-sectional research with a total of 370 participants. Data were collected using the Domestic Violence Against Women Screening Form, the Pregnancy Symptoms Inventory (PSI), and a descriptive questionnaire. The types of IPV the women in the study had experienced during pregnancy were, in order of frequency, verbal abuse (31.1 %; n = 115), economic abuse (25.9 %; n = 96), physical violence (8.4 %; n = 31), and sexual abuse (5.9%; n = 22). The PSI scores for the pregnant women subjected to physical violence related to gastrointestinal system symptoms (p < .05), cardiovascular system symptoms (p < .05), mental health symptoms (p = 0), neurological system symptoms (p < .05), urinary system symptoms (p < .01), and tiredness or fatigue (p = 0); their total PSI scores (p = 0) were significantly higher statistically than those of women who did not experience physical violence during pregnancy. The scores of the pregnant women subjected to sexual abuse related to mental health symptoms (p < .05), and their total PSI scores (p < .05) were significantly higher than those of women who did not experience sexual abuse. The scores of the pregnant women subjected to economic abuse related to tiredness or fatigue (p < .01) and their mental health symptom scores (p < .05) were significantly higher than those of women who did not experience economic abuse. Our results showed that women subjected to IPV during pregnancy experienced a higher incidence of pregnancy symptoms.

Experiences and Perceptions of Abused Turkish Women Regarding Violence Against Women

This study qualitatively explored abused Turkish women's experiences and perceptions regarding violence against women. The research sample comprised 30 women who were seen by the police and referred to the Family Counseling Center between 2 October 2012 and 30 August 2013 due to domestic violence. Study data were collected using a Demographic Information Datasheet and a Semi-Structured Interview Form. Qualitative data were gathered using face-to-face interviews, which were transcribed verbatim then analyzed and interpreted to determine themes using the conceptual framework. Qualitative analysis yielded five themes: (1) being subjected to all types of violence; (2) everything is an excuse for violence; (3) forgetting what it is like to be a woman; (4) having to continue the marriage against her will; (5) being forced to do some things involuntarily in order to reduce the violence. In the light of these results, it seems that multidisciplinary approaches are required in order to support women both psychologically and socially. Women need to be supported in order to determine their mental health problems and to get the required medical assistance.