OBJECTIVE:

To estimate the occurrence and factors associated with physical and psychological violence exerted on pregnant women by their partners.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

Cohort, retrospective and cross-sectional study carried out in patients attended from June to November 2019 at the Hospital de la Madre y el Niño Guerrerense, Mexico. An electronic questionnaire (Abuse Assessment Screen), self-administered, was used to inquire about sociodemographic data, physical and psychological violence and gynecological and obstetric history. The associated factors were estimated by odds ratio and multivariate analysis.

RESULTS:

We collected 463 records useful for analysis; 125 (27%) reported psychological violence and 7% (n = 32) physical violence. Factors associated with psychological violence were history of such violence in childhood (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.5; 95%CI: 1.3-4.8) and before pregnancy (aOR: 33.9; 95%CI: 18.9-60.6). The factors associated with physical violence were history of this type of violence before pregnancy (aRI: 24.6; 95%CI: 10.4-58.6) and in childhood (aRI: 3.6; 95%CI: 1.5-8.5) and alcohol consumption during pregnancy (aRI: 5.5; 95%CI: 1.3-24.4). Being married or in union was a protective factor against psychological (RMa: 0.33; 95%CI: 0.11-0.97) and physical violence (RMa: 0.29; 95%CI: 0.08-0.99).

CONCLUSIONS:

Psychological violence was higher than that reported for physical violence. Both were experienced during the childhood years or before pregnancy and increased the risk of suffering it during the reproductive process. Pregnant women who were married or in union had a lower risk of suffering physical and psychological violence.