FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH CONTROLLING PARTNER BEHAVIOR
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56238/arev8n5-113Keywords:
Controlling Behavior, Pregnancy, Mental Health, Intimate Partner ViolenceAbstract
Controlling partner behavior includes acts such as inhibiting the woman's contact with friends and relatives. This cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study was conducted in the Neonatal Unit of a University Hospital in Northeast Brazil. Data collection was carried out through interviews with women during their postpartum hospitalization. Socioeconomic conditions, prenatal and delivery data, and physical and mental health problems during pregnancy were assessed. The Self-Reporting Questionnaire-20 (SRQ-20) was used to assess mental health. The controlling partner behavior (CPB) was assessed using a questionnaire about the relationship profile between the partners. Two hundred and fifty-six postpartum women were interviewed, among whom 37.1% reported CPB, which was more frequent among adolescents (9.3% vs. 17.9%; p=0.045), single women (47.2% vs. 67.4%; p=0.002), those who had pre-eclampsia (18.6% vs. 29.5%; p=0.045) and those with suspected common mental disorders (43.5% vs. 61.1%; p=0.007). The prevalence of some type of intimate partner violence (psychological, physical and/or sexual) during pregnancy was 15.2%, and in lifetime it was 38.6%. The factors associated with CPB, with an approximately twice higher chance, were: being single, substance use during pregnancy, and frequent arguments between the couple. This chance was almost four times greater when the woman reported intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy and in her life. Controlling behavior can be a predictor of IPV; identifying it early allows for the development of intervention strategies to mitigate the consequences for maternal physical and mental health.
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