Domestic violence during COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women registered for antenatal care and selected adverse pregnancy outcomes in Amhara region Ethiopia: Prospective cohort study design

BACK GROUND: Domestic violence during pregnancy is the most devastating but neglected problem in Amhara region. The newly introduced COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control strategies predispose for domestic violence during pregnancy and this in turn the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To assess the magnitude of domestic violence during COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women and adverse pregnancy outcomes in Amhara region Ethiopia. METHODS: Both institution and community based prospective cohort study design was employed among 774 pregnant. The data were collected from may1/2021 up to march1/2021by face to face interview using pretested and structured questionnaire. Binary logistic regression analysis was done. P value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical association. RESULTS: A total of 774 women were participated in the study. Domestic violence during COVID-19 pandemic among pregnant women was found to be 65.76% (61.1%–69%). The overall prevalence of adverse pregnancy out comes was 9.7% with. Antenatal care visit number 3&above (AOR) = 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.8), unintended pregnancy (AOR = 2.2; 95% CI 1–4.6), no ambulance services (AOR = 1.5; 95% CI 1–2.2), not the primary decision maker for family planning use (AOR = 3.3; 95% CI 1.6–6.5), no health care provider support (AOR = 12; 95% CI 6.3–23) were statistically significant with domestic violence during pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: Domestic violence during COVID-19 pandemic was high in the study area. Giving emphasis for antenatal care visit 3& above, type of pregnancy, accessibility of ambulance services, decision maker for family planning service and health care provider support during antenatal care were area of interests that are important for tackling domestic violence during pregnancy.