Intimate partner violence and depression among women in rural Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Background: Studies from high-income countries have shown intimate partner violence to be associated with depression among women. The present paper examines whether this finding can be confirmed in a very different cultural setting in rural Ethiopia. Method: A community-based cross-sectional study was undertaken in Ethiopia among 1994 currently married women. Using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI), cases of depressive episode were identified according to the ICD-10 diagnosis. Using a standardized questionnaire, women who experienced violence by an intimate partner were identified. A multivariate analysis was conducted between the explanatory variables and depressive status of the women, after adjusting for possible confounders. Results: The 12-month prevalence of depressive episode among the women was 4.8% (95% CI, 3.9% and 5.8%), while the lifetime prevalence of any form of intimate partner violence was 72.0% (95% CI, 70.0% and 73.9%). Physical violence (OR = 2.56, 95% CI, 1.61, 4.06), childhood sexual abuse (OR = 2.00, 95% CI, 1.13, 3.56), mild emotional violence (OR = 3.19, 95% CI, 1.98, 5.14), severe emotional violence (OR = 3.90, 95% CI, 2.20, 6.93) and high spousal control of women (OR = 3.30, 95% CI, 1.58, 6.90) by their partners were independently associated with depressive episode, even after adjusting for socioeconomic factors. Conclusion: The high prevalence of intimate partner violence, a factor often obscured within general life event categories, requires attention to consider it as an independent factor for depression, and thus to find new possibilities of prevention and treatment in terms of public health strategies, interventions and service provision. © 2009 Deyessa et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Prolonged Labour in Rural Ethiopia: A Community Based Study

Obstructed or prolonged labour is one of the major causes of maternal death, and it is associated with poor child survival in developing countries. The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for, and outcome of, and outcome, prolonged labour among rural women giving birth at home. A prospective community-based study of pregnant women in rural communities of South central Ethiopia was conducted using lay female interviewers. Labour of more than 24 hours was observed in 181(14.7%) women, 17.2 per cent among primipara and 14.2 per cent among multipara. The incidence rates of poor pregnancy outcome were stillbirth (19/1000 births), perinatal mortality (45/1000 births) and neonatal mortality (37/1000 live births). Poor birth outcomes were higher among women with labour > 24 hours than for women with labou

Strong association between earlier abuse and revictimization in youth

Background: Violence victimization among youth is recognized as a public health problem. The objective was to analyze the risk pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during the past 12 months by gender, sociodemographic factors, health risk behaviors, and exposure to abuse before the age of 15, among young men and women attending youth health centers in Sweden. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a nationally representative sample of youth health centers. A total of 2,250 young women and 920 young men aged 15-23 completed a self-administered questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI were calculated. Results: A consistent and strong association was noted between exposure to all types of violence during the past year and victimization before the age of 15 for all types of violence for both women and men. The only exceptions were childhood sexual victimization and sexual violence during the past year for men. Younger age was associated with all violence exposure for the women and with emotional violence for the men. For the women, drug use was associated with all types of violence, while the association with hazardous alcohol use and not living with parents was restricted to physical and sexual violence exposure, present smoking was restricted to emotional and physical violence exposure, and partnership and living in urban areas were restricted to sexual violence. For men, not being partnered, hazardous alcohol consumption, and drug use meant increased risk for physical violence, while smoking and living in urban areas were associated with sexual violence. After adjustment, immigration had no association with violence exposure. Conclusions: Violence victimization in young men and women is often not a single experience. Findings underline the importance of early interventions among previously abused youth.Funding Agencies|Swedish Crime Victim Compensation and Support Authority; Northern County Councils Regional Federation; Research and Development Department, Vasternorrland County Council</p

Low psychosocial resources during early pregnancy are not associated with prolonged labour

Objectives: To examine if a low level of psychosocial resources in early pregnancy is associated with the occurrence of prolonged tabour. Study design: A cross sectional study of 644 women expecting their first child. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire at their first antenatal visit, measuring psychosocial resources defined as social network and support, work-related psychosocial factors, control of daily life and health characteristics. Outcome was prolonged labour at the end of the pregnancy. Results: A low level of psychosocial resources was not associated with prolonged tabour. The majority of women reported that the degree of support was high in early pregnancy. Conclusions: A perceived low level of psychosocial resources in early pregnancy did not increase the risk of prolonged tabour at the subsequent delivery

Strong association between earlier abuse and revictimization in youth Strong association between earlier abuse and revictimization in youth

Abstract Background: Violence victimization among youth is recognized as a public health problem. The objective was to analyze the risk pattern of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse during the past 12 months by gender, sociodemographic factors, health risk behaviors, and exposure to abuse before the age of 15, among young men and women attending youth health centers in Sweden. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a nationally representative sample of youth health centers. A total of 2,250 young women and 920 young men aged 15-23 completed a self-administered questionnaire. Odds ratios (OR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% CI were calculated. Results: A consistent and strong association was noted between exposure to all types of violence during the past year and victimization before the age of 15 for all types of violence for both women and men. The only exceptions were childhood sexual victimization and sexual violence during the past year for men. Younger age was associated with all violence exposure for the women and with emotional violence for the men. For the women, drug use was associated with all types of violence, while the association with hazardous alcohol use and not living with parents was restricted to physical and sexual violence exposure, present smoking was restricted to emotional and physical violence exposure, and partnership and living in urban areas were restricted to sexual violence. For men, not being partnered, hazardous alcohol consumption, and drug use meant increased risk for physical violence, while smoking and living in urban areas were associated with sexual violence. After adjustment, immigration had no association with violence exposure. Conclusions: Violence victimization in young men and women is often not a single experience. Findings underline the importance of early interventions among previously abused youth

How women perceive abortion care: A study focusing on healthy women and those with mental and posttraumatic stress

Objectives To identify perceived deficiencies in the quality of abortion care among healthy women and those with mental stress. Methods This multi-centre cohort study included six obstetrics and gynaecology departments in Sweden. Posttraumatic stress (PTSD/PTSS) was assessed using the Screen Questionnaire-Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; anxiety and depressive symptoms, using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale; and abortion quality perceptions, using a modified version of the Quality from the Patients Perspective questionnaire. Pain during medical abortion was assessed in a subsample using a visual analogue scale. Results Overall, 16% of the participants assessed the abortion care as being deficient, and 22% experienced intense pain during medical abortion. Women with PTSD/PTSS more often perceived the abortion care as deficient overall and differed from healthy women in reports of deficiencies in support, respectful treatment, opportunities for privacy and rest, and availability of support from a significant person during the procedure. There was a marginally significant difference between PTSD/PTSS and the comparison group for insufficient pain alleviation. Conclusions Women with PTSD/PTSS perceived abortion care to be deficient more often than did healthy women. These women do require extra support, relatively simple efforts to provide adequate pain alleviation, support and privacy during abortion may improve abortion care.Funding Agencies|Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation; Medical Faculty of Uppsala Universities; Family Planning Foundation at Uppsala University; Regional Research Committees of Uppsala and Orebro Counties Councils; Sophiahemmet Foundation</p