Abrham Mulugeta¹*, Ahmed Sirai¹, Nathnael Tekalign², Zerihun Asefa³ and Ruphael Wolde²

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia
²School of Medicine, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia
³Health Monitoring and Evaluation, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia

*Corresponding Author: Abrham Mulugeta, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jimma University, Jimma, Oromia, Ethiopia

Received: October 31, 2025; Published: December 12, 2025

Abstract

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a widespread public health problem with serious implications for maternal and neonatal outcomes. Evidence remains limited regarding its impact on birth outcomes in low- resource settings such as Ethiopia.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted at Jimma Medical Center from February to June 2024. Pregnant women between 20 and 28 weeks’ gestation were enrolled and followed until delivery. IPV exposure was assessed using the WHO Violence Against Women instrument. Outcomes included 5-minute Apgar score, birth weight, preterm delivery, and stillbirth. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to estimate adjusted associations.

Results: Among 219 participants, 32% reported IPV during pregnancy. After adjusting for confounders, IPV was significantly associated with a lower 5-minute Apgar score (β = −2.183; 95% CI: −4.151 to −0.214). No significant associations were observed with other birth outcomes.

Conclusion: IPV during pregnancy is common and associated with impaired neonatal condition at birth. Routine screening and supportive interventions during antenatal care are recommended.

Keywords: Intimate Partner Violence; Pregnancy; Birth Outcomes; Apgar Score; Ethiopia

References

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Citation

Citation: Abrham Mulugeta., et al. “Impact of Intimate Partner Violence During Pregnancy on Birth Outcomes in Southwest Ethiopia: A Prospective Cohort Study". Acta Scientific Women's Health 8.1 (2026): 16-19.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2025 Abrham Mulugeta., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.