Intimate Partner Violence and Miscarriage Risk in Pregnant Women in Guatemala
Author Information
Author(s): Johri Mira, Morales Rosa E, Boivin Jean-François, Samayoa Blanca E, Hoch Jeffrey S, Grazioso Carlos F, Barrios Matta Ingrid J, Sommen Cécile, Baide Diaz Eva L, Fong Hector R, Arathoon Eduardo G
Primary Institution: Unité de Santé Internationale (USI), Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal
Hypothesis
Physical and sexual abuse would be causally related to higher rates of miscarriage but verbal abuse would not be so related.
Conclusion
Physical and sexual intimate partner violence is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage among pregnant women in Guatemala.
Supporting Evidence
- 18% of the 1897 pregnant women reported experiencing IPV.
- 10% of the sample experienced miscarriage.
- Women reporting physical or sexual IPV had an adjusted odds ratio of 1.83 for experiencing miscarriage.
Takeaway
If a woman is hurt by her partner while pregnant, it can make it more likely for her to lose the baby.
Methodology
Cross-sectional study using interviewer-administered questionnaires to collect data on IPV and miscarriage among pregnant women in a major hospital.
Potential Biases
Self-reporting may lead to underestimation of IPV and potential misclassification of induced abortions as miscarriages.
Limitations
The study relies on self-reported data, which may underestimate IPV prevalence, and is based on a hospital sample, which may not represent the general population.
Participant Demographics
Pregnant women aged 15-47, with a diverse ethnic background and varying levels of education.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.003
Confidence Interval
1.23 to 2.72
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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