Magnitude of self-reported intimate partner violence against pregnant women in Ghana’s northern region and its association with low birth weight
Authors: Kpordoxah Mary Rachael , Adiak Abraham Awonboro , Issah Abdul-Nasir , Yeboah Daudi , Abdulai Nashiru , Boah Michael 
Published: January 2024

Background

Low birth weight (LBW) rates are high in the northern region of Ghana, as is tolerance for intimate partner violence (IPV). However, the relationship between the two incidents has not been established. This study assessed the magnitude of IPV against pregnant women and its association with LBW in the northern region of Ghana.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 402 postnatal women from five public health care facilities in the Tamale Metropolitan Area, northern Ghana. Data were collected electronically during face-to-face interviews. Validated methods were used to determine IPV exposure during pregnancy and birth weight. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the independent association between prenatal exposure to IPV and LBW.

Results

Of the 402 women, 46.5% (95% CI: 41.7, 51.4) experienced IPV during their most recent pregnancy. Of these, 34.8% were psychologically abused, 24.4% were sexually abused, and 6.7% were physically abused. Prenatal IPV exposure was found to be significantly associated with birth weight. Low birth weight was twice as likely among exposed women as among unexposed women (AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.12, 5.26, p < 0.05). Low birth weight risk was also higher among women with anaemia in the first trimester (AOR = 3.47; 95% CI: 1.47, 8.23, p < 0.01), but was lower among women who made at least four antenatal care visits before delivery (AOR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14, 0.89, p < 0.05) and male newborns (AOR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.11, 0.49, p < 0.001).

Conclusion and recommendation

IPV during pregnancy is prevalent in the research population, with psychological IPV being more widespread than other kinds. Women who suffered IPV during pregnancy were more likely to have LBW than those who did not. It is essential to incorporate questions about domestic violence into antenatal care protocols. In particular, every pregnant woman should be screened for IPV at least once during each trimester, and those who have experienced violence should be closely monitored for weight gain and foetal growth in the study setting to avert the LBW associated with IPV.

Plain English summary

In the northern region of Ghana, the number of babies born with low birth weight is high, as is the number of adults who are willing to put up with intimate partner violence. However, there has not been any proof that these two incidents are connected. This study looked at how frequently intimate partner violence occurs among pregnant women and how it is linked to low birth weight in northern Ghana’s Tamale Metropolitan Area. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 402 postnatal women from five public health care facilities in the study setting. Information on exposure to intimate partner violence during pregnancy and the birth weight of babies was collected electronically during face-to-face interviews. The study found that of the 402 women, 46.5% had experienced violence by an intimate partner during their most recent pregnancy. Out of these, 34.8% were abused psychologically, 24.4% were abused sexually, and 6.7% were abused physically. Women who were abused were more likely than those who were not to have babies with low birth weight. We concluded that intimate partner violence is common during pregnancy in the study setting and that more women suffered psychological intimate partner violence than other types of violence. Intimate partner violence during pregnancy was linked to low birth weight in the study setting. It is important for antenatal care plans to include questions about intimate partner violence. In particular, every pregnant woman should be assessed for intimate partner violence at least once during each trimester for monitoring.