Citation

Zakar R, Zakar MZ, Mikolajczyk R, Kramer A. Int. J. Gynaecol. Obstet. 2012; 117(1): 10-14.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ijgo.2011.10.032

PMID

22257768

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence in Pakistan and its association with reproductive health outcomes. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 8 hospitals in Lahore and Sialkot between October 2008 and January 2009. Information from randomly selected ever-married women of reproductive age was collected via a structured interview. Psychologic, physical, and sexual violence was categorized as "no" or "severe" violence. Associations between reproductive health outcomes and violence were assessed by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Among 373 women interviewed, 75.9% reported severe psychologic, 34.6% reported severe sexual, and 31.9% reported severe physical violence at least once in marital life. Women who experienced severe physical violence were more likely to have their husband's noncooperation in using contraceptives (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 3.31; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.93-5.68), poor prenatal care (AOR, 2.11; 95% CI, 1.23-3.69), unplanned pregnancies (AOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.39-3.76), and poor self-reported reproductive health (AOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.71-4.91) as compared with non-abused women. Similar associations existed for other types of violence. CONCLUSION: The results highlight the magnitude of violence and its association with reproductive health of women. Urgent action is needed to mitigate the violence and its consequential damage to health.

Language: en