Domestic violence in pregnancy and postpartum depression relationship; example Mani̇sa

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the correlation between the exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy and postpartum depression and their determinants in Manisa city center. Method and Material: This study was designed as a prospective cohort study. The study universe was composed of pregnant women in Manisa city center(n=1149).The sample size was determined with Open Epi Calcultor and it was found that the rate of exposure to domestic violence during pregnancy was 10% (TC Violence Against Women Survey, 2008) and that the sample size should be 289 with a standard deviation of 3%, a level of significance of 0.05, and a power of 80%. The study data were collected between 01.06.2013 and 15.01.2014 with face to face interviews with the participants during home visits. The pregnant women were delivered a sociodemographic information form and a survey of violence against women. they were revisited 4-6 weeks after the birth and given Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale. Three different forms were used in collecting data; a sociodemographic information form, Multiple Country Model Women's Health and Domestic Violence Against Women Scale, and Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS). The statistical analysis was conducted with SPSS 15.00 and they were evaluated with chi square tests in order to assess the correlation between the independent variables and violence when analysing descriptive, statistical, qualitative data. In the following step, the variables that were found statistically different in one way analyses (95% reliance interval) were evaluated with logistic regression analysis. Findings: The average age of the participants was 26,53±5.20 (16-41). They were mostly primary school graduates (35,3%), 19.3% of the pregnant women in the study were working outside their home, and 98% had social security. The study results suggested that 10.7% of the participants were exposed to physical violence, (n=32), 3,3% to sexual violence (n=10), 11,3% physical or sexual violence (n=34), 21,7% to emotional violence (n=65), 11,3% to economic violence (n= 34). The results of the multiple regression analysis indicated that physical violence was comparatively a major problem among women who lived in large families, women with children, women who feared from their husbands, and women who had injuries. Sexual violence, on the other hand, was more common among women with no social security, women who were married more than ten years, women with lower educational status, women with bad health perception, and women who had injuries. Pyhsical and sexual violence were more common among women who were married more than 10 years, women who feared from their husbands, and women who had injuries. Emotional violence, on the other hand, were often a promlem among women with large families, lower educational status, women who feared from their husbands, and women who had injuries. Finally, economical violence was common among women with lower social status and women with children. It was further concluded that the 23.7% of the women in the study experienced postpartum depression. The results of the multiple regression analyses demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between postpartum depression and the number of people in the house, marital status (official marriages or only religious ceremony), educational status of the spouse, fear from the spouse, and any history of injuries. Results: The first significant finding of the study was that the rate of physical or sexual violence among pregnant women was 11.7%. The second significant finding was that postpartum depression rate was 23,7%. The third finding of the study was that 50.5% of the women who were exposed to domestic violence had postpartum depression. Suggestions: HEalth professionals are greatly responsible for revealing the domestic violence against women, providing care, support, and rehabilitation, and ensuring a violence free society reducing, preventing, protecting and early intervention in violence. Midwives and nurses at family health centers are recommended to monitor new mothers during home visits for one year. Keywords: Domestic violence, pregnancy, postpartum depression