Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in Australia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
5 affiliations
- 1Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD4811, Australia; Corresponding author.
- 2Public Health, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD 4222, Australia
- 3Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University College of Public Health, Fairfax, Virginia, USA
- 4Department of Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Institute of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
- 5Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Medicine and Dentistry, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD4811, Australia
Abstract
Background and Aim: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a serious public health concern with potential harm to mothers and newborns. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised Australian studies examining the association between IPV or family violence during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth (SB), and miscarriage. Methods: English-language, peer-reviewed original studies conducted in Australia and reporting IPV during pregnancy as the exposure and at least one specified adverse birth outcome were sought from inception to March 2026 in Scopus, Medline, Emcare, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Two reviewers independently screened records at title, abstract, and full-text stages, with conflicts resolved by consensus. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models. Quality was appraised with Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were assessed. Results: Ten studies comprising 230,601 women met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of IPV during pregnancy was 7.20% (95% CI, 3.75, 13.37; I 2 = 99.9%, p < 0.001). IPV was significantly associated with preterm birth (AOR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.48; I 2 = 29.7%, p = 0.171) and low birth weight (AOR 1.70; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.69; I 2 = 36%, p = 0.179). Higher but non-significant odds were observed for stillbirth (AOR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.21, 7.86; I 2 = 83.3%, p = 0.018) and SGA (AOR 1.37; 95% CI: 0.18, 10.43; I 2 = 92.2%, p < 0.001). One study reported an unadjusted association with miscarriage (OR 2.00; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.55). Conclusion: IPV during pregnancy is associated with increased odds of adverse birth outcomes, significantly so for PTB and LBW, supporting routine antenatal IPV screening and integrated support within maternity care. Interpretation warrants caution given observational designs, few contributing studies, and substantial heterogeneity. Further Australian research is needed.
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BibTeX
@article{seidu2026intimate,
title = {{Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in Australia: A systematic review and meta-analysis}},
author = {Abdul-Aziz Seidu and Satyajit Kundu and Priscilla Aba Aggrey and Lidetu Demoze and Ellen Beattie and Theophilus I. Emeto},
journal = {Sexual \& Reproductive Healthcare},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101293},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101293},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Intimate partner violence during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes in Australia: A systematic review and meta-analysis
AU - Abdul-Aziz Seidu
AU - Satyajit Kundu
AU - Priscilla Aba Aggrey
AU - Lidetu Demoze
AU - Ellen Beattie
AU - Theophilus I. Emeto
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare
DO - 10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101293
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2026.101293
AB - Background and Aim: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a serious public health concern with potential harm to mothers and newborns. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesised Australian studies examining the association between IPV or family violence during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), stillbirth (SB), and miscarriage. Methods: English-language, peer-reviewed original studies conducted in Australia and reporting IPV during pregnancy as the exposure and at least one specified adverse birth outcome were sought from inception to March 2026 in Scopus, Medline, Emcare, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Two reviewers independently screened records at title, abstract, and full-text stages, with conflicts resolved by consensus. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and unadjusted odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using random-effects models. Quality was appraised with Joanna Briggs Institute tools, and heterogeneity, publication bias, and sensitivity analyses were assessed. Results: Ten studies comprising 230,601 women met the inclusion criteria. The pooled prevalence of IPV during pregnancy was 7.20% (95% CI, 3.75, 13.37; I 2 = 99.9%, p < 0.001). IPV was significantly associated with preterm birth (AOR 1.30; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.48; I 2 = 29.7%, p = 0.171) and low birth weight (AOR 1.70; 95% CI: 1.07, 2.69; I 2 = 36%, p = 0.179). Higher but non-significant odds were observed for stillbirth (AOR 1.29; 95% CI: 0.21, 7.86; I 2 = 83.3%, p = 0.018) and SGA (AOR 1.37; 95% CI: 0.18, 10.43; I 2 = 92.2%, p < 0.001). One study reported an unadjusted association with miscarriage (OR 2.00; 95% CI: 1.55, 2.55). Conclusion: IPV during pregnancy is associated with increased odds of adverse birth outcomes, significantly so for PTB and LBW, supporting routine antenatal IPV screening and integrated support within maternity care. Interpretation warrants caution given observational designs, few contributing studies, and substantial heterogeneity. Further Australian research is needed.
SN - 1877-5764
ER -