High-frequency intimate partner violence during pregnancy, postnatal depression and suicidal tendencies in Harare, Zimbabwe
Abstract
ntimate partner violence (IPV) is a common form of violence experienced by pregnant womenand is believed to have adverse mental health effects postnatally. This study investigated the association ofpostnatal depression (PND) and suicidal ideation with emotional, physical and sexual IPV experienced bywomen during pregnancy.Data were collected from 842 women interviewed postnatally in six postnatal clinics in Harare.We used the World Health Organization versions of IPV and Centre for Epidemiological Studies—Depression Scale measures to assess IPV and PND respectively. We derived a violence severity variable and com-bined forms of IPV variables from IPV questions. Logistic regression was used to analyse data whilst controllingfor past mental health and IPV experiences.