ABSTRACT

Aim: To determine the association of domestic violence with the adverse pregnancy outcome.

Study design: Cohort Study

Place and duration: Mother and Child health Unit II PIMS Islamabad from 25th April 2014 to 24th April 2015.

Methodology:All low risk women presenting at MCH Outpatient antenatal booking Clinic, subsequently delivered at MCH Centre PIMS, were recruited after obtaining the written informed consent. Pregnancy outcome such as miscarriage and still birth was noted. Women recruited into study were followed till delivery. Total of 108 were recruited. Two groups were made i.e. women with physical violence (group A) and women with no violence (group B)(54 Pts in each group)

Results: Mean age was 24.3±5.8 in group A and 24.8 ±5.2 in group B. Intrauterine fetal death in group with violence occurred in 2 cases ( 3.7%) and in group without violence in 1 case(1.9%).The difference was not statistically significant (P 0.558). In group (A) pregnancy loss at < 24 weeks occurred in 3 women (5.6%) and in 1 woman (1.9 %) in group (B). The difference again was not statistically significant (P 0.308)

Conclusion: Adverse pregnancy outcomes were not found to be associated with domestic violence

Keywords: Domestic violence, pregnancy, adverse pregnancy outcome, miscarriage, still birth, domestic abuse