The influence of emotional, financial, and control behaviors on physical and sexual violence in intimate relationships during pregnancy: Secondary analysis data

Medicine (Baltimore). 2026 Jul 17;105(29):e49750. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000049750.

ABSTRACT

Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy includes physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, as well as controlling behaviors. However, there is limited information on how emotional, financial, and controlling behaviors affect the occurrence of physical and sexual violence during pregnancy. This study aimed to establish the associations between these types of violence and the occurrence of physical and sexual violence during pregnancy. The study used a secondary analysis of data derived from a larger analytical cross-sectional study. The research was conducted in Central Tanzania between March 4 and April 20, 2024 and included 360 women who had recently delivered. Participants were selected using a 4-stage sampling technique and were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participants were selected using a 4-stage sampling technique and interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted using SPSS version 25 to examine factors associated with the outcome variable. The strength of associations was expressed using adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals. Statistical significance was considered at P < .05. A total of 36 women (10.0%) experienced physical violence during pregnancy, while 35 women (9.7%) experienced sexual violence. After adjusting for possible confounders, the predictors of physical violence were emotional violence (AOR = 4.316 at 95% CI = 1.488-12.513, P = .007) and financial abuse (AOR= 4.356 at 95% CI = 1.711-11.091, P = .002), while the predictors of sexual violence were emotional violence (AOR=3.612 at 95% CI = 1.393-9.367, P = .008) and controlling behavior (AOR= 4.314 at 95% CI = 1.307-14.241, P = .016). The findings demonstrate that multiple forms of intimate partner violence during pregnancy often coexist and collectively compromise maternal and fetal well-being. Comprehensive IPV screening should be integrated into prenatal care, and healthcare providers should be trained to identify all forms of abuse, including emotional, financial, controlling, physical, and sexual violence. Future research should use longitudinal and intervention-based designs to clarify causal pathways, evaluate preventive strategies, and understand how different forms of violence affect maternal and child health outcomes.

PMID:42469983 | DOI:10.1097/MD.0000000000049750