Intimate Partner Violence and Pre-Eclampsia: A Case-Control Study

Pre-eclampsia is the most common complication of pregnancy and a major factor of maternal mortality in which multiple causes such as depression، and psychophysical stress may be involved. The purpose of this study was determining the relationship between intimate partner violence and pre-eclampsia. This case-control study was conducted on 300 pregnant women with pre-eclampsia and 150 healthy women without pre-eclampsia referred to health centers، state hospitals، and private hospitals of Mashhad، Iran in 2011. Data were collected using a questionnaire about demographic characteristic، an information form about clinical and laboratory symptoms of pre-eclampsia، Dass 21 and revised conflict tactics scales. Data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 11. 5) and independent t-test، mann-whitney، chi-square، correlation coefficient and logistic regressions. P value less than 0. 05 was considered significant. Domestic violence had significant relationship with pre-eclampsia (p<0. 001). Odd ratio of pre-eclampsia with total violence was 1. 6 fold higher than control group، psychological violence was 3. 2 fold higher than control group and sexual violence was 1. 6 fold higher than control group. There were no significant association between physical violence (p=0. 475)، injuries due to violence (p=0. 760) and pre-eclampsia. But there were significant correlation between severity of intimate partner’s sexual and psychological violence and pre-eclampsia (p<0. 001). Intimate partner violence particularly sexual and emotional violence are the base of incidence risk of preeclampsia.