Dataset Information

The impact of a maternal mental health intervention on intimate partner violence in Northern Ghana and the mediating roles of social support and couple communication: secondary analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT:

Backgrounds

Diverse intervention efforts are implemented to address intimate partner violence (IPV) against women. Via a syndemics theory lens and emerging empirical evidence, mental health interventions demonstrate promise to partially ameliorate IPV. However, the mechanisms of change underlying many IPV interventions are not well understood. These gaps impede our efforts to strengthen or integrate effective components into the current mental health resources, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study aims to examine the impact of a maternal mental health intervention called Integrated Mothers and Babies Course & Early Childhood Development (iMBC/ECD) on IPV and whether social support and/or couple communication mediates the intervention effects among women in rural, Northern Ghana.

Methods

The current study is a secondary data analysis of a cluster randomized controlled trial. IPV was measured at baseline and 8 months post-intervention (~ 19 months post-baseline). At baseline, 84.8% of the women enrolled in the study (n = 374) reported some type of IPV in the past 12 months. Logistic regression models and multiple mediation analyses were used to address the study aims.

Results

iMBC/ECD did not reduce IPV in the intervention group compared to the control group. Social support and couple communication did not mediate the intervention effects on IPV as indicated by the indirect effects of the multiple mediation models. However, increase in social support reduced women’s odds of experiencing emotional violence by 7%, odds ratio (OR) = 0.93, p = 0.007; b = − 0.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) = (− 0.13, − 0.02), and improvement in couple communication demonstrated promise in reducing women’s odds of experiencing controlling behaviors by 7%, OR = 0.93, p = 0.07; b = − 0.07, CI = (− 0.14, 0.005), though the improvements were not due to the intervention.

Conclusion

This maternal mental health intervention did not reduce IPV; however, the findings extend our knowledge about the impact of such interventions on IPV and the potential mechanisms of change via social support and couple communication. Future research evaluating the impact of mental health interventions on IPV and mechanisms of change is essential for the development of effective interventions. Future programs addressing IPV in LMICs should consider risk factors beyond relationship level (e.g. poverty and gender inequity).

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov # NCT03665246, Registered on August 20th, 2018.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-12121-9.

SUBMITTER: Cao J

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8569999 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:Intimate partner violence (IPV) is the most common form of violence women experience globally. Economic empowerment interventions have been implemented across countries to prevent and address IPV, with mixed results. A sociological 'male-backlash' model suggests that addressing unequal gender norms is crucial to reduce IPV. This study evaluates the impact of a multipronged intervention among heterosexual couples in urban and periurban Ibadan that aimed at reducing IPV by increasing financial and reproductive literacy, fostering gender equality and improving relationship quality. A four-arm mixed-methods cluster randomised control trial was employed. Baseline data and end line data six months postintervention were collected to estimate changes in key outcomes. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 couples 2 years postintervention to explore the drivers of changes in outcomes. Difference-in-differences regression models were estimated to compare changes in IPV levels across the three intervention arms and control arm, and thematic analysis was conducted to understand drivers of change in IPV outcomes. Physical IPV decreased significantly in the gender socialisation (GS) (β: -4.63 (SE: 2.12)) and GS and financial literacy (β: -4.61 (SE: 2.02)) groups as compared with the control group. Changes in emotional and sexual IPV were marginally significant or insignificant, respectively, suggesting that the intervention did not have an impact on non-physical forms of IPV. In the in-depth interviews, couples reported improved communication and trust, enhanced conflict management skills, and increased mutual respect as a result of participation across intervention arms, which may have facilitated the reduction of violence in their relationships. This study highlights the potential utility of gender transformative interventions for improving physical IPV outcomes. Future research should seek to understand the mechanisms that influence sexual and emotional IPV as their aetiology may be different from physical violence. The study protocol was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (ID: NCT03888495).

Project description:OBJECTIVES:To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) in pregnancy and to understand associations and determinants. DESIGN:Cross-sectional survey. SETTING:Two rural health clinics in post-conflict northern Uganda. PARTICIPANTS:Women attending two rural health clinics for a new service providing cervical cancer screening, who had experienced pregnancy. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES:Data were collected by a questionnaire using validated questions from the demographic health survey women's questionnaire and the domestic violence module. Data were entered into tablets using Questionnaire Development System software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was performed, using experience of IPV in pregnancy as the dependent variable. SPSS V.25 was used for all analysis. RESULTS:Of 409 participant women, 26.7% (95% CI 18.6% to 35.9%) reported having been slapped, hit or beaten by a partner while pregnant. For 32.3% (95% CI 20.2% to 37.9%) of the women the violence became worse during pregnancy. Women who had ever experienced IPV in pregnancy were more likely to have experienced violence in the previous 12 months (OR 4.45, 95%?CI 2.80 to 7.09). In multivariate logistic regression, the strongest independent associations with IPV in pregnancy were partner's daily drinking of alcohol (OR 2.02, 95%?CI 1.19 to 3.43) and controlling behaviours (OR 1.17, 95%?CI 1.03 to 1.33). CONCLUSIONS:The women in this study had more exposure to IPV in pregnancy than previously reported for this region. Women's previous experience of intimate partner violence, partner's daily use of alcohol and his controlling behaviours were strong associations with IPV in pregnancy. This study highlights the uneven distribution of risk and the importance of research among the most vulnerable population in rural and disadvantaged settings. More research is needed in local rural and urban settings to illuminate this result and inform intervention and policy.

Project description:Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a significant public health issue, with a 25% lifetime prevalence. Screening for IPV in primary care is a recommended practice whose effectiveness is debated. To assess the effect of an electronic health record (EHR)-based multifactorial intervention screening on the detection of IPV risk in primary care practice. This cluster randomized clinical trial used a stepped-wedge design to assign 15 family medicine primary care clinics in the Medical University of South Carolina Health System in the Charleston region to 3 matched blocks from October 6, 2020, to March 31, 2023. All women aged 18 to 49 years who were seen in these clinics participated in this study. A noninterruptive EHR alert combined with confidential screening by computer questionnaire using the EHR platform followed by risk assessment and a decision support template. The main outcomes were the rate at which patients were screened for IPV across the clinics and the rate at which patients at risk for IPV were detected by screening procedures. The study clinics cared for 8895 unique patients (mean [SD] age, 34.6 [8.7] years; 1270 [14.3%] with Medicaid or Medicare and 7625 [85.7%] with private, military, or other insurance) over the study period eligible for the screening intervention. The intervention had significant effects on the overall rate of screening for IPV, increasing the rate of screening from 45.2% (10 268 of 22 730 patient visits) to 65.3% (22 303 of 34 157 patient visits) when the noninterruptive alert was active (relative risk, 1.46 [95% CI, 1.44-1.49]; P < .001). The confidential screening process was more effective than baseline nurse-led oral screening at identifying patients reporting past-year IPV (130 of 8895 patients [1.5%] vs 9 of 17 433 patients [0.1%]). The intervention was largely effective in increasing screening adherence and the positive detection rate of IPV in primary care. A highly private approach to screening for IPV in primary care may be necessary to achieve adequate detection rates while addressing potential safety issues of patients experiencing IPV. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06284148.

Project description:BackgroundIntimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health issue that consists of physical, sexual, and psychological violence perpetrated by a current or former partner. Informal supporters (e.g., family and friends) of survivors are more often witness to IPV or are the first people a survivor will disclose abuse to and are more able to provide consistent ongoing support than professional services. Therefore, greater understanding of informal supporters is warranted to aid in reducing the risks experienced by survivors. This systematic review aimed to: (1) identify factors associated with either an increase or decrease in helping behaviour toward a survivor, (2), identify the most effective self-care strategies employed by informal supporters, and (3) consider the current theoretical approaches used to understand informal supporters help-giving behavioural intention.MethodsA systematic literature search was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search included English language articles published between 2005 and 2021 in the databases Psych Articles, Scopus, Proquest Social Services Abstracts, and Ebscohost. Studies were included if the primary research aims explored the motivators and inhibitors of helping intention or self-care strategies of adult social network members of adult IPV survivors. Two reviewers independently screened all identified articles for inclusion suitability.ResultsOne hundred and twenty articles were subjected to full text screening resulting in 31 articles being identified as meeting inclusion criteria. Synthesis of the findings identified the following three key areas associated with help-giving behavioural intentions: normative factors, individual factors, and situational factors. There were no articles identified that considered self-care of informal supporters. Of the 31 articles, 22 had a theoretical underpinning. None of the utilised theories explained all three of the identified factors of help-giving behavioural intention.ConclusionThese results are integrated into a proposed Intimate Partner Violence Model of Informal Supporter Readiness (IPV-MISR), incorporating the identified factors associated with help-giving behavioural intention. This model provides a framework for conceptualising the readiness of an informal supporter to provide adequate support to IPV survivors. The model extends existing theoretical standpoints and has utility in both practice and research.