Domestic Violence during Pregnancy and Mental Health: Exploratory Study in Primary Health Centers in Peñalolén

Abstract

Objective. To determine the prevalence of domestic violence in a sample of pregnant women attending Primary Health Centers in Peñalolén (Peñalolén is a low income district in the Metropolitan Region in Santiago de Chile.), to explore risk facts for domestic violence during pregnancy, and to establish associations with their psychological health. Method and Materials. 256 pregnant women were assessed with a domestic violence screening and a questionnaire on mental symptoms. Frequency and correlations analysis were developed. Results. 5, 9% of the participants reported physical violence during current pregnancy. Emotional violence ascended to 30, 1% of the cases. Main risk facts found were as follows: having suffered violence along lifetime and physical violence during the last year. Anxiety and depressive symptoms positively correlated to domestic violence during pregnancy, but also to previous domestic violence experiences. Conclusions. Domestic violence during pregnancy is a prevalent problem and domestic violence history constitutes an alert to its occurrence. Positive and significant association to psychological disturbances suggests the need to detect it early during antenatal care.