Prevalence and Risk Factors of Intimate Partner Violence among Women Who Use Alcohol During Pregnancy in Plateau State, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Partner violence and alcohol use disorder among pregnant women are recognised as major public health problems worldwide, particularly in Africa. Their significance lies in their ability to impact both the mother and the unborn child. This hospital-based prevalence study investigates the prevalence, pattern and risk factors for partner violence among pregnant women who consume alcohol in Plateau State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 264 participants from the antenatal attendees in Vom Christian Hospital and General Hospital, Barkin-Ladi. Structured questionnaires were administered to collate data on socio-demographic variables, abuse type and prevalence, and alcohol use patterns. Of the women screened, 22.8% suffered from any of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, and some suffered from multiple types of abuse, with non- alcohol using women contributing 3.8% compared to 18.2 % of alcohol using women. Women who used alcohol were 6.7 times more likely to report abuse than those who did not, and alcohol use was predictive of abuse (p 0.00001). Among all the groups, verbal abuse was the most prevalent (65.9%), followed by physical and sexual abuse, respectively. Some risk factors associated with abuse included younger age (p=0.018; 0.012), no or lower educational status (p=0.01; 0.05), and farming (p=0.001). Older age, a secondary level of education or higher, and formal employment were all protective factors. Religion and marital status were not significantly related to abuse. According to this research, there is an urgent need for structured interventions addressing both substance use and interpersonal violence within antenatal care programs.