The Effects of Intimate Partner Violence on Maternal/Fetal Health and Nutrition during Pregnancy and Lactation

Abstract

Although violence is at least as old as human history, it was not perceived as a serious problem, especially until the last century. However, violence, which is experienced increasingly every day for various reasons and has been almost settled in daily life, appears in all dimensions from individual violence to collective violence. More than one million people die owing to violence each year. Especially, if pregnancy is unplanned, it can be an important risk for domestic violence. Domestic violence during pregnancy is reported as a major public health problem, especially in low-income countries. Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is closely related to nutrition and health problems in mother and child during pregnancy and lactation. During pregnancy, reports indicate some medical problems in addition to obstetric complications, psychological problems, premature birth, fetal growth restriction, and fetal or neonatal mortality. Current studies suggest that violence during pregnancy is associated with negative consequences such as food security, malnutrition, inadequate prenatal care, preterm delivery and low birth weight. Moreover, studies conducted with mothers and their children exposed to violence during pregnancy show that children are at greater risk for developmental, socio-emotional and behavioral problems. Despite the high prevalence of intimate partner violence in studies conducted in different countries, the long-term consequences of infants born to mothers exposed to violence have not been adequately investigated. The aim of this review is to examine the effects of domestic violence against pregnant women on the health and nutrition of the mother and child during pregnancy and lactation.