Abstract
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health problem worldwide but research on IPV in Africa remains limited. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of sexual and physical intimate partner violence against women and its associated factors, in a sample of women using prenatal care in Nampula, province-Mozambique.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study, carried out in six health units, from February 2013 to January 2014. One in every three pregnant women who visited primary health facilities for the first pre-natal appointment was eligible and invited to participate. After obtaining informed consent 869 pregnant answered the Conflict Tactics Scale 2. Odds ratios (OR) and respective 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were calculated by using Logistic Regression.
Results: The prevalence of sexual abuse ever in life was 49% and of physical abuse was 46%. The past year prevalence was 46% and 44% for sexual and physical abuse, respectively. Sexual abuse and physical violence occurred in every age group. Significant associations were found between previous neonatal deaths and being physically abused, during the life-time (OR= 3.00, 95% IC: 1.67 to 5:39), and the past year (OR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.80 - 5.80).
Conclusion: This study found a high lifetime and past year violence prevalence among women using prenatal care in Mozambique. Prenatal care provides a window of opportunity for identifying women who experience violence.
Message 1
The prevalence of intimate partner violence is very high among women in Mozambique and prenatal care can be a sentinel setting
Message 2
The implementation of strategies to support women victims of violence in Mozambique is urgently needed
2015.