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Intimate partner violence during pregnancy as impacted by COVID-19: mixed-methods from a national cohort of recently pregnant Ethiopian women

Shannon Wood, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Robel Yirgu, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health
Abigiya Wondimagegnehu, Addis Ababa University School of Public Health
Jiage Qian, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Rachel Milkovich, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Michele Decker, Johns Hopkins University
Nancy Glass, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing
Linnea Zimmerman, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Pandemics exacerbate gender inequities, including intimate partner violence (IPV). Early research indicates a surge in IPV due to COVID-19 given increased economic insecurity and exposure to perpetrators. IPV during pregnancy is particularly dangerous given health impact to mother and baby. Utilizing a nationally representative cohort of recently pregnant Ethiopian women, this study aimed to examine how the COVID-19 pandemic affected pregnant women’s experiences with IPV through 1) comparison of IPV prevalence pre- and post-COVID-19 using quantitative data and 2) contextualization of women’s experiences of IPV during COVID-19 through exploration of lockdown measures. We found that one in ten women experienced any IPV during pregnancy prior to COVID (10.5%), and IPV prevalence during pregnancy increased to 15.1% during COVID (aOR=1.51; 95% CI=1.06-2.15; p=0.02). When stratified by residence, odds of IPV during COVID, compared to pre-COVID, increased for urban women (aOR=2.09; 95% CI=1.10-3.96; p=0.03), while odds slightly attenuated for rural women (aOR=1.43; 95% CI=0.96-2.13; p=0.08). Qualitative data contextualize quantitative results; namely, COVID-19 affected IPV differentially based on husband’s job status. Antenatal care providers must be alert to potential IPV and COVID-related exacerbation in household tensions. Linkage to woman-centered antenatal and postnatal care can afford women opportunities to increase health and safety.

Keywords: Gender, COVID-19, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Mixed methods research

See paper.

Presented in Session 73. Gender-Based Sexual Violence