Prevalence of domestic violence and its related factors among pregnant women: Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies.

Authors

Ahmad Zwenal, Farag M A Altalbawy, Ulmasov Firdavs, Urazalieva Ilmira, Tilavova Matlab, Atham Jurayev

Published in

Women & health. Pages 1-21. Jul 08, 2026. Epub Jul 08, 2026.

Abstract

Domestic violence (DV) and gender-based violence (GBV) significantly impact women globally, with severe consequences for maternal and fetal health, especially during pregnancy. Prevalence rates of partner abuse during pregnancy vary widely, ranging from 2 percent to 57 percent. This study aims to assess the overall prevalence and types of DV among pregnant women through a systematic review and meta-analysis.The present study was conducted using a systematic review approach based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search for relevant studies was performed in the Scopus, Web of Science (WOS), ScienceDirect, and Medline databases using keywords related to DV and pregnancy. Following data extraction, the necessary statistical analyses were conducted using the random-effects model and performed with the second version of the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software. Based on the results obtained from the analysis of 66 studies, the overall prevalence of domestic violence among pregnant women was reported to be 22.5 percent (95 percent confidence interval: 17-29.2 percent). Further subgroup analysis showed that the prevalence of domestic violence in Africa was 32.7 percent (95 percent confidence interval: 24.3-42.4 percent), which was higher than in other continents. Additionally, the results indicated that psychological and physical violence were the most common forms of domestic violence experienced by pregnant women. This meta-analysis revealed a significant prevalence of DV among pregnant women, with notable variations across different regions and types of violence. The findings highlight the impact of DV on maternal mental and physical health, increasing stress levels and the likelihood of adverse behaviors such as poor nutrition and inadequate prenatal care. Given the potential underreporting of DV in many countries, the actual prevalence may be higher than reported. These results emphasize the need for targeted interventions and policy measures to prevent and reduce DV, particularly among pregnant women. This meta-analysis highlights the significant prevalence of DV among pregnant women globally, underscoring the urgent need for targeted interventions to address its psychological, physical, and emotional impact on maternal and fetal health. Therefore, policymakers in the health system must take necessary actions to prevent and reduce the prevalence of DV, particularly among pregnant women.

PMID:
42418283
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Jul 2026.

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