[Prevalence of intimate partner violence during pregnancy and association with spontaneous preterm birth].

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of intimate partner violence( IPV)during pregnancy in two cities of Anhui, China. Also, to investigate the association of spontaneous preterm birth with IPV during pregnancy.

METHODS: In a cross-sectional study undertaken in Hefei and Anqing cities of Anhui, China, between May, 2013, and January, 2014, we enrolled 928 pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy who were attending primary health-care clinics. The form of partner violence in pregnancy was assessed with a validated questionnaire, and we also collect the information on sociodemographic characteristics, wantedness of pregnancy and life style through interview. The data on birth outcomes was assessed by medical records, which includebirth weight, gestational age, deliver mode and reason of preterm. Analyses were conducted using logistic regression models to assess the correlation between spontaneous preterm birth and IPV.

RESULTS: The prevalence of psychological violence alone, physical violence alone and sexual violence alone during pregnancy were 28. 8%( 95% CI 25. 9%- 31. 7%), 7. 0%( 95% CI 5. 5%- 8. 8%) and 2. 3%( 95% CI 1. 4%- 3. 4%). Compared with the couples without IPV, the proportions of lower agers, less educational achievement, unwanted pregnancy, inadequate communication, partner 's drinking or smoking before pregnancy significantly increased among the couples with IPV( P < 0. 05). After adjustment for the confounding factors from both couples, psychological violence plus physical or sexual violence was significantly associated with spontaneous preterm birth( adjusted OR = 2. 31, 95% CI 1. 12- 4. 74).

CONCLUSION: Psychological violence during pregnancy is common in city of Anhui, China, and the association between psychological violence and spontaneous preterm birth is not significant. However, psychological violence plus physical or sexual violence significantly increase the risk for spontaneous preterm birth.