Partner Conflict among a Cohort of Women during the Index Pregnancy as measured in the Extended Postpartum Six Weeks Period and its correlates in Ethiopia: Community Based Longitudinal Data; A Multilevel Analysis

Abstract

Introduction: Current intimate partner violence (IPV) in Ethiopia is considerably high. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of the IPV during the index pregnancy as measured in six weeks postpartum among women in the extended six postpartum period and identify its correlates. Documenting the magnitude of six week postpartum IPV during the index pregnancy as measured six weeks in the postpartum period and identifying factors affecting it contributes its share for the ministry and other relevant partners in tracking progress towards eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030. Methods: This study used PMA merged cohort 1 baseline and six week postpartum data which enrolled and collected data from currently pregnant women. Frequency was computed to describe the study participant’s characteristics, and chi-square statistics was used to assess cell sample size adequacy. Multilevel binary logistics regression was employed to identify correlates of IPV at the extended six postpartum period. Results were presented in the form percentages and odds ratio with 95% Confidence Intervals. Candidate variables were selected using p-value of 0.25. Statistical significance was declared at p-value of 0.05. Results: The proportion of IPV during the index pregnancy as measured six weeks postpartum women where who reported experiencing at least one for of physical or sexual IPV 6 weeks postpartum was 12.14% (10.66%, 13.79%). Over the same period a slightly higher percentage of women reported that they have experienced at least of form of sexual IPV 8.09% (6.91%, 9.44%) than experiencing at least one form of physical IPV 6.02% (4.94%, 7.31%). After controlling confounders, the likelihood of experiencing at least one form of physical and/or sexual IPV was 2.14 (1.04, 4.38) time higher among women whose husband had other wife’s compared to those who do not have. On the contrary, women who were residents of Afar region had 86% 0.14 (0.03, 0.79) lower odds of experiencing one form of physical and/or sexual IPV six weeks postpartum. Activities and efforts which are specific to regions and that address the problem of polygamy are hoped to address the problem IPV. Such activities can be delivered should be tailored along the maternal and new born care continuum.