Social Structure, Social Learning, and the Severity of Physical Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in Nigeria

Correlation Between Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy and Parental Acceptance by Primiparous Mothers

Background

Pregnancy and the transition to parenthood are periods in parents' lives that require tremendous adjustment. The physical and mental health of mothers during these periods is significantly associated with maternal acceptance. The present study aimed to evaluate the correlation between intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and parental acceptance by primiparous mothers in Isfahan, Iran.

Methods

A cross-sectional descriptive and correlational study was conducted from September 2021 to February 2022 in Isfahan, Iran. The target population was primiparous mothers in the postpartum period referred to nine different health centers across Isfahan. The participants (n=308) completed three questionnaires, namely demographic, Tabrizi intimate partner violence screening, and parental acceptance questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS software (version 22.0). P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

The mean score of total IPV was 40.45±28.94. Domestic violence during pregnancy was reported by 59 (19.2%) mothers. The most common types were psychological violence (74.4%), followed by financial abuse (35.1%), sexual violence (17.2%), and physical violence (14.9%). The mean score of parental acceptance was 115.77±12.58. There was a significant inverse correlation between parental acceptance and IPV score (r=-0.15, P=0.005). The number of siblings and birth order had a significant inverse correlation with parental acceptance (r=-0.13, P=0.002; r=-0.13, P=0.002, respectively). Moreover, the age difference between the mothers and their next siblings had a significant direct correlation with parental acceptance (r=0.12, P=0.003).

Conclusion

Primiparous mothers subjected to IPV during pregnancy had lower parental acceptance after delivery.

The Role of Violence Acceptance and Inequitable Gender Norms in Intimate Partner Violence Severity Among Couples in Zambia

Inequitable gender norms, including the acceptance of violence in intimate relationships, have been found to be associated with the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization. Despite these findings, few studies have considered whether inequitable gender norms are related to IPV severity. This study uses baseline data from a psychotherapeutic intervention targeting heterosexual couples (n = 247) in Lusaka, Zambia, who reported moderate to severe male-perpetrated IPV and male hazardous alcohol use to consider: (a) prevailing gender norms, including those related to IPV; (b) the relationship between IPV acceptance and IPV severity; and (c) the relationship between inequitable gender norms and IPV severity. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to model the relationships between IPV acceptance and inequitable gender norms, and female-reported IPV severity (including threats of violence, physical violence, sexual violence, and total violence), separately among male and female participants. In general, men and women were similar in their patterns of agreement with gender norms, with both highly endorsing items related to household roles. More than three-quarters of men (78.1%) and women (78.5%) indicated overall acceptance of violence in intimate relationships, with no significant differences between men and women in their endorsement of any IPV-related gender norms. Among men, IPV acceptance was associated with a statistically significant increase in IPV perpetration severity in terms of threatening violence (B = 5.86, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.84, 9.89]), physical violence (B = 4.54, 95% CI = [0.10, 8.98]), and total violence (B = 11.65, 95% CI = [3.14, 20.16]). There was no association between IPV acceptance and IPV victimization severity among women. Unlike IPV acceptance, there was no evidence for a relationship between inequitable gender norms and IPV severity for either men or women. These findings have implications for the appropriateness of gender transformative interventions in targeting men and women in relationships in which there is ongoing IPV.