Prevalence and Screening Tools of Intimate Partner Violence Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

(1)

Background

Domestic violence (DV), including intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and the puerperium, represents a major public health issue, significantly affecting maternal and child health. (2)

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis, conducted according to PRISMA 2020 guidelines, aimed to identify screening tools used to detect DV and IPV among pregnant and postpartum women and to estimate DV prevalence. The protocol was published in PROSPERO in advance (CRD42023473392). (3)

Results

A comprehensive literature search across PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and Web of Science was conducted on 1 January 2024, resulting in 34,720 records; 98 studies met the inclusion criteria. The included studies were conducted in over 40 countries, and most were cross-sectional. Commonly used screening tools included the WHO Women's Health and Life Experiences Questionnaire, the Abuse Assessment Screen, and the WHO Violence Against Women Instrument. Meta-analyses showed that 10% of women experienced physical violence, 26% psychological violence, 9% sexual violence, 16% verbal violence, and 13% economic violence. The overall prevalence of IPV during pregnancy and the puerperium was 26%. Despite the widespread use of validated instruments, substantial heterogeneity was observed, underscoring the need for standardization. (4)

Conclusion

These findings underline the urgent need to integrate routine IPV screening into maternal care pathways using validated, culturally adapted tools, ensuring women's safety and confidentiality.