Isn't pregnancy supposed to be a joyful time? A cross-sectional study on the types of domestic violence women experience during pregnancy in Malawi

• Published in: Malawi medical journal 2018-09, Vol.30 (3), p.191-196
• Main Authors: Chasweka, Robert, Chimwaza, Angela, Maluwa, Alfred
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Domestic Violence - psychology; Domestic Violence - statistics & numerical data; Female; Humans; Intimate Partner Violence - psychology; Intimate Partner Violence - statistics & numerical data; Malawi; Middle Aged; Original Research; Physical Abuse - psychology; Physical Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications - psychology; Pregnant Women - psychology; Sex Offenses - psychology; Sex Offenses - statistics & numerical data; Spouse Abuse - psychology; Spouse Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Spouses - psychology; Spouses - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 1995-7262; 1995-7270; 1995-7262
• DOI: 10.4314/mmj.v30i3.11

Domestic violence against pregnant women exists in Malawi but its magnitude and types were, until recently published data, unknown due to scanty published data on the subject. This study aimed at identifying types of abuse women experience during pregnancy. The study design was cross-sectional descriptive quantitative using a random sample of 292 pregnant women attending an antenatal clinic at Nsanje District Hospital, southern region of Malawi. A structured questionnaire was administered to each pregnant woman that consented to participate. Data was analyzed using SPSS software version 16. Descriptive statistics were computed for demographic data and type of violence. The findings indicate that a majority (59%) of women experienced more abuse during pregnancy, compared to 12.5% prior to current pregnancy. The women were psychologically (29%), sexually (28%) and physically (14%) abused during pregnancy. There was a significant association (P