Intimate partner violence among postpartum women: associated factors.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the profile and assess the self-esteem of postpartum women, to characterize their babies and partners, and to verify the association of these characteristics with the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV). METHOD: Cross-sectional study with 207 postpartum women assisted in a public clinic. RESULTS: There was no statistic correlation among the sociodemographic variables, personal and obstetric characteristics with the occurrence of IPV. The postpartum women who showed low self-esteem presented a higher exposure risk to IPV (p<0.01; OR=2.01 and CI 95% [1.40-2.87]). The mothers of the babies that were born with low weight (less than 2,500 g) had almost twice the chances of suffering violence (p<0.05; OR=1.74 and CI 95% [1.00-3.03]). The women whose partners did not consume alcohol presented a lower probability to be exposed to IPV (p<0.05; OR=0.182 and CI 95% [0.03-0.93]). CONCLUSION: Women's low self-esteem, babies' inappropriate weight and consumption of alcohol by partners were correlated to the occurrence of IPV.

Intimate partner violence among postpartum women: associated factors / Violencia de pareja en puérperas: factores asociados / Violência por parceiro íntimo entre puérperas: fatores associados

ABSTRACT Objective: To identify the profile and assess the self-esteem of postpartum women, to characterize their babies and partners, and to verify the association of these characteristics with the occurrence of intimate partner violence (IPV). Method: Cross-sectional study with 207 postpartum women assisted in a public clinic. Results: There was no statistic correlation among the sociodemographic variables, personal and obstetric characteristics with the occurrence of IPV. The postpartum women who showed low self-esteem presented a higher exposure risk to IPV (p<0.01; OR=2.01 and CI 95% [1.40-2.87]). The mothers of the babies that were born with low weight (less than 2,500 g) had almost twice the chances of suffering violence (p<0.05; OR=1.74 and CI 95% [1.00-3.03]). The women whose partners did not consume alcohol presented a lower probability to be exposed to IPV (p<0.05; OR=0.182 and CI 95% [0.03-0.93]). Conclusion: Women's low self-esteem, babies' inappropriate weight and consumption of alcohol by partners were correlated to the occurrence of IPV.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Identificar el perfil y la autoestima de puérperas, las características de sus bebés y compañeros, y verificar sus asociaciones con la ocurrencia de Violencia de Pareja (VPI, siglas en portugués). Método: Estudio transversal, con 207 puérperas seguidas en servicio público. Resultados: No hubo asociación estadística entre variables sociodemográficas, características personales y obstétricas con la ocurrencia de VPI. Las puérperas con baja autoestima expresaron mayor riesgo de exposición a VPI (p<0,001; OR=2,01; IC 95% [1.40-2.87]). Las madres de bebés nacidos con peso inadecuado (abajo de 2500g) presentaron casi dos veces más posibilidades de sufrir violencia (p<0,05; OR=0,182; IC 95% [0.03-0.93]). Las mujeres cuyas parejas no consumían alcohol presentaron menores posibilidades de exposición a VPI (p<0,05; OR=0,182 e IC 95% [0.03-0.93]). Conclusión: La baja autoestima de las mujeres, el peso inadecuado del bebé y el consumo de alcohol de la pareja estuvieron asociados a la ocurrencia de VPI.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar o perfil e a autoestima de puérperas, bem como as características de seus bebês e companheiros e, verificar suas associações com a ocorrência de Violência por Parceiro Íntimo (VPI). Método: Estudo transversal, com 207 puérperas acompanhadas em um ambulatório público. Resultados: Não houve associação estatística entre as variáveis sociodemograficas, características pessoais e obstétricas com a ocorrência de VPI. As puérperas com baixa autoestima apresentaram maior risco de exposição à VPI (p<0,01; OR=2,01 e IC 95% [1,40-2.87]). As mães dos bebês que nasceram com o peso inadequado (2500g) apresentaram quase duas vezes mais chances de sofrerem violência (p<0,05; OR=1,74 e IC 95% [1.00-3.03]). As mulheres cujos companheiros não faziam uso de álcool apresentaram menos chances de exposição à VPI (p<0,05; OR=0,182 e IC 95% [0.03-0.93]). Conclusão: A baixa autoestima das mulheres, o peso inadequado do bebê e o uso de álcool pelo companheiro estiveram associados à ocorrência de VPI.