COVID-19 and Perinatal Intimate Partner Violence: A cross-sectional survey of pregnant and post-partum individuals in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extreme societal stress and concern for rising risk of intimate partner violence (IPV). This study was designed to investigate the prevalence, patterns and risk factors for perinatal IPV among those who gave birth since COVID-19 began. Method(s): We conducted a cross-sectional survey of patients who gave birth at The Ottawa Hospital and were >20 days post-partum between March 17th-June 16th 2020. Perinatal IPV was defined as psychological, physical, and/or sexual abuse in the 12 months pre-pregnancy, during pregnancy or post-partum. Log-binomial multivariable regression models were used to compute adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and 95% CI to quantify relationships with potential risk factors for IPV: maternal age, parity, household income, post-partum depression, and increase in partner substance use. Result(s): Of 1568 patients who gave birth during the study period, 572 were contacted, 261 completed the survey and 216 had complete data for analyses. Median maternal age was 33 years (IQR: 30-36) and median infant age was 76 days (IQR: 66-90). In total, 52 (24.1%) reported perinatal IPV: 37 (17.1%) had controlling partners; 13 (6.0%) reported abuse in the 12 months pre-pregnancy, 11 (5.1%) during pregnancy, and 15 (6.9%) post-partum. Household income below the municipal median was the strongest risk factor for any IPV (aRR: 3.24, 95% CI: 1.87-5.59). There was no apparent association between maternal age (aRR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.94-1.04), nulliparity (aRR: 1.18, 95% CI: 0.71-1.97), post-partum depression (aRR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.07), or partner substance use increase since COVID-19 began (aRR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.42-1.25) with IPV. Conclusion(s): A quarter of our study population experienced perinatal IPV. Household income was the strongest risk factor for perinatal IPV, and surprisingly, many hypothesized risk factors (e.g., mental health, increased partner substance use etc.) were not associated with perinatal IPV in this sample.