Intimate partner violence in the postpartum period and its associated factors among women attending a postnatal clinic in Central Ethiopia

OBJECTIVE: Intimate partner violence may affect women at any stage of their lives, including during pregnancy and after childbirth, and can have major health consequences for both the mother and the child. Therefore, the study was aimed to assess Intimate partner violence against postpartum women and its associated factors among women attending the postpartum clinic in Central Ethiopia, 2021. METHODS: The hospital based cross-sectional study design was implemented among postpartum women attending Sendafa Beke Hospital from September to October 2021. Systematic random sampling procedure was used to select 414 eligible postpartum women. Data were collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. The data were entered into Epi Info and exported to SPSS version 24 for analysis. All variables with p-value < 0.05 under adjusted odds ratio were taken as statistical significant associated factors with postpartum intimate partner violence. RESULTS: A total of 414 postpartum women participated in the study with a 97% of response rate. The prevalence of postpartum intimate partner violence was 31.4%. The study identified that monthly income 1000–5000 birr (adjusted odds ratio = 3.4; 95% confidence interval = 1.08, 10.5), partners’ alcohol consumption (adjusted odds ratio = 0.17, 95% confidence interval = 0.06, 0.45), decision-maker of household affairs (adjusted odds ratio = 4.8; 95% confidence interval = 1.5, 15.1), and infant’s sex (adjusted odds ratio = 0.03; 95% confidence interval = 0.02, 0.063) were significantly associated with postpartum intimate partner violence. CONCLUSION: According to the findings of this study, nearly one-third of postpartum women were violated by their intimate partner after childbirth. Postpartum intimate partner violence was found to be associated with monthly income, partners’ alcohol intake, decision-maker of household affairs, and infant’s sex. To reduce the magnitude of the problem, different efforts should require from health professional, community, and government. The policy makers, planners and other concerned bodies establish appropriate strategy to prevent and control violence against women.