Domestic Violence Against Pregnant Women in Iran

OBJECTIVE To determine the relationship between preterm birth and domestic violence against pregnant women in Iran. MATERIALS AND METHODS This cross-sectional study was carried out on 600 women who were hospitalized for giving birth in one of hospitals affiliated to Tehran Medical Science University in Iran, between September 9, 2010 and December 30, 2010. This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee affiliated with Tehran University, Iran. We applied Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) Questionnaire. RESULTS A total of 338 participants (56.3%) declared to experience domestic violence during pregnancy. Psychological violence was the most common form of violence against these women in postpartum (51.3%), and followed by physical violence (5%). Prevalence rate of premature labor was 37.7% among all women in this study which 63.3% of this rate belongs to abuse women. CONCLUSION It is noted that healthcare providers with screening violence during pregnancy and assessing the prevalence, consequences, and possible interventions may help to reduce domestic violence against pregnant women.