Date of Conferral

2017

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Amany Refaat

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) among women poses a significant threat to maternal mortality during pregnancy in Nigeria with a prevalence rate of 14% in the southern region versus 43% in the northern region. Early and adequate prenatal care is essential for improving pregnancy outcomes and the reduction of the maternal mortality rate. Previous studies in several countries have demonstrated a unique barrier to healthcare access among women exposed to IPV. This study assessed the association between IPV during pregnancy and prenatal clinic attendance, using a cross-sectional quantitative study design guided by the social learning theory. The modified Conflict Tactile Scale module and the Adequacy of Prenatal Care Utilization index were used to assess 467 pregnant women attending prenatal care at two government hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria. Results showed a 55.2% IPV prevalence among studied pregnant women in Abuja. A significant relationship was not established between IPV and prenatal clinic visits and its early initiation. However, media exposure (p = .016) was positively associated with prenatal clinic visits, while parity (p < .001) and wealth index (p = .017) had significant associations with prenatal clinic initiation using a chi-square test of association analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis further showed that pregnant women who were exposed to IPV were less likely to have inadequate prenatal visits; however, this was not statistically significant (OR = 0.795, Cl = 0.491-1.287, p = .351). Women in the lower wealth index (OR = 2.297, Cl = 1.101-4.794, p = .027) and those with inadequate media exposure (OR = 1.999, Cl = 1.020-3.916, p = .043) were more likely to have inadequate prenatal clinic visits. The impact of the study on positive social change will guide discussions on the need for standardized IPV abuse screening and evaluation at all levels of healthcare entry for Abuja women.

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