Anxiety Level of Pregnant Women from Ahwaz Exposed to Domestic Violence

Background: Domestic violence is a concern in the communities and need a wide attention. Violence against women can cause all kinds of physical and mental illness. This is a threat to woman’s and family member’s health. Stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy are risk factors for adverse consequences. Little is known about the level of the mental illnesses in women who exposed to domestic violence during pregnancy. This study reported the level of anxiety in women who were victims of domestic violence in health centers in Ahwaz. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study in which a sample of 110 pregnant women with domestic violence and pregnant women without violence were recruited. The data were collected using the demographic questionnaire, World Health Organization standardized domestic violence questionnaire, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). The data entered in SPSS 21 and were analyzed using Chi-Square, Independent-t and Multiple Logistic Regression. Results: The pregnant women in the domestic violence group had a higher mean score of anxiety (P < 0.05). Women exposed to violence experienced psychological violence (57.75%), physical violence (37.73%) and sexual violence (33.88%). The psychological violence was the greatest influence on the level of anxiety in pregnant women. Conclusion: This study demonstrated the impact of domestic violence on the level of anxiety in pregnant women and confirmed its treat to womenʹs mental health.