Prevalence of intimate partner violence and associated factors amongst women attending antenatal care at Outapi clinic, Namibia : a descriptive survey
Date
2017-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS publishing
Abstract
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant and largely hidden public health
problem for all women and, during pregnancy, can have significant effects on the health of
both mother and the unborn baby. Previous Namibian studies suggest rates of IPV as high as
36%, although few studies have been conducted in primary care.
Aim: To determine the prevalence of IPV amongst women attending antenatal care.
Setting: Outapi primary care clinic, Namibia.
Methods: A descriptive survey administering a validated questionnaire to 386 consecutive
participants.
Results: The mean age of the participants was 27.5 years (standard deviation = 6.8), 335 (86.8%)
were unmarried, 215 (55.7%) had only primary school education and 237 (61.4%) were in their
third trimester. Overall, 51 participants (13.2%) had HIV and 44 (11.4%) had teenage
pregnancies. The reported lifetime prevalence of IPV was 39 (10.1%), the 12-month prevalence
was 35 (9.1%) and the prevalence during pregnancy was 31 (8.0%). Emotional abuse was the
commonest type of abuse in 27 (7.0%). The commonest specific abusive behaviour was refusing
to provide money to run the house or look after the children whilst the partner spent money
on his priorities (4.9%). Increased maternal age was associated with an increase in the
occurrence of IPV.
Conclusion: The reported lifetime prevalence of IPV was 10.1%, with emotional abuse being
the commonest type of abuse. Increased age was associated with an increase in reported IPV.
IPV is significant enough to warrant that healthcare providers develop guidelines to assist
women affected by IPV in Namibia.
Description
CITATION: Bikinesi, L.T., Mash, R. & Joyner, K. 2017. Prevalence of intimate partner violence and associated factors amongst women attending antenatal care at Outapi clinic, Namibia: A descriptive survey. African Journal of Primary Health care & Family Medicine, 9(1): a1512, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v9i1.1512.
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
The original publication is available at https://phcfm.org/index.php/phcfm
Keywords
Intimate partner violence -- Namibia, Public health -- Namibia
Citation
Bikinesi, L.T., Mash, R & Joyner, K. 2017. Prevalence of intimate partner violence and associated factors amongst women attending antenatal care at Outapi clinic, Namibia: A descriptive survey. African Journal of Primary Health care & Family Medicine, 9(1): a1512, doi:10.4102/phcfm.v9i1.1512.