Sexual Violence among Pregnant Women in Southwest Ethiopia: Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study Design - Abstract
Background: In low-socioeconomic countries, sexual violence is the most common gender-based problem that challenges women’s daily lives and leads to adverse pregnancy outcomes. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sexual violence and its associated factors among pregnant women in Mattu Town, Southwest Ethiopia. Study Design: Community-based cross-sectional study Methods: A simple random sampling method was employed among 414 pregnant women in Mattu Town from January 1 to 30, 2023. A face-to-face interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with sexual violence and are presented with adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). The level of significance was declared at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results: Of the 405 pregnant women included in the study, 23.46% had sexual violence (95% CI: 19.31%, 27.90%). Sexual violence was more likely among pregnant women who were married before the age of 18 (aOR:2.13; 95% CI: 1.12, 4.04), exposed to controlled behavior (aOR:8.42; 95% CI:9 4.40, 16.07), partner with secondary educational level (aOR:4.11; 95% CI:1.25, 13.59), partner daily khat use (aOR:2.79;95% CI:1.16, 6.68), and partner decision-making on household affairs (aOR:3.70; 95% CI:1.50, 9.32). Conclusions: This study found that sexual violence among pregnant women is high. Early marriage, daily partner khat use, partner decision-making, control of behavior, and partner educational level were significantly associated factors identified among this population group.