Association between perinatal intimate partner violence and breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Authors

Zelalem Nigussie Azene, Berihun Dachew, Mehari Woldemariam Merid, Nicole Reilly, Catherine MacPhail

Published in

BMC pregnancy and childbirth. Volume 26. Issue 1. Jul 27, 2026. Epub Jul 27, 2026.

Abstract

Intimate partner violence (IPV) negatively affects the health of both the mother and the child. These risks are particularly critical during the perinatal period, a time of heightened vulnerability. However, the relationship between maternal IPV exposure and breastfeeding outcomes remains uncertain, and existing findings are inconsistent and inconclusive. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to synthesise the existing evidence on the association between perinatal IPV and breastfeeding outcomes.
A systematic literature search was conducted using relevant databases between June 15 and August 2, 2024. All peer-reviewed observational studies that specifically investigated the link between Perinatal (P)-IPV and breastfeeding outcomes, such as early initiation, exclusivity, and duration among the perinatal population, were included. Heterogeneity across the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane Q test and I² statistics. Publication bias was assessed through funnel plots and Egger's test. Finally, a random effects model was used to estimate the pooled adjusted odds ratios and their 95% CIs.
Nineteen observational studies published between 2007 and 2024, comprising 347,706 mother-child pairs, were included in the review. Of these, 17 studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. A meta-analysis of nine studies indicated that P-IPV was associated with a 36% higher odds of delayed initiation of breastfeeding (AOR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.14-1.63), with both physical (AOR: 1.20; 95% CI: 1.02-1.42) and psychological P-IPV (AOR: 1.38; 95% CI: 1.09-1.74) were associated with higher odds of not initiating breastfeeding within one hour of birth. Similarly, women exposed to P-IPV had higher odds of not exclusively breastfeeding (EBF) at six months (AOR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.21-1.85), with similar associations observed for both physical (AOR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.18-1.95) and psychological P-IPV (AOR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.39-1.76).
This review found that P-IPV was associated with delayed breastfeeding initiation and a lower likelihood of EBF at six months. The findings highlight the potential value of trauma-informed and trauma-sensitive screening, support, and referral pathways for women experiencing P-IPV.

PMID:
42907962
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 23 Oct 2026.

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