TY - JOUR

T1 - Does resilience moderate the effect of intimate partner violence on signs of depression among Tanzanian pregnant women

T2 - A cross‐sectional study

AU - Magnusson, Frederik L.

AU - Rogathi, Jane J.

AU - Sigalla, Geofrey N.

AU - Manongi, Rachel

AU - Rasch, Vibeke

AU - Gammeltoft, Tine

AU - Meyrowitsch, Dan W.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - IntroductionExposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) has been found to be associated with a multitude of poor health and quality of life outcomes. Among the risks exacerbated by IPV is prenatal depression. Resilience is hypothesized to protect against psychopathology after exposure to a traumatic influence. The present study aims to investigate resilience as a moderator of the effect of exposure to IPV on prenatal depression among pregnant women in Moshi, Tanzania.Material and methodsIn this cross‐sectional study, nested within a larger longitudinal study, pregnant women receiving antenatal care were interviewed about exposure to IPV, signs of depression using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, and resilience using the abbreviated Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale. Logistic regression was used to test the effect of the interaction term of resilience and exposure to IPV during pregnancy on the risk of high level of signs of depression.ResultsIn total, 1013 women completed all interviews, 300 women reported exposure to IPV, and 113 had high levels of signs of depression. Mean resilience score was 14.26 (SD 9.45). Exposure to IPV was correlated with signs of depression (adjusted odds ratio 6.49, 95% CI 3.75‐11.24). Resilience was not correlated with signs of depression, nor was the interaction term of resilience and exposure to IPV.ConclusionsThe study did not find that resilience acted as a moderator of the effect of exposure to IPV during pregnancy on the risk of prenatal depression. The cross‐sectional design of the study may not be well suited to investigate resilience, which could take time to manifest. The abbreviated Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale has not been validated in a Tanzanian setting, or in the Swahili version. Practitioners should take note that all women and families affected by IPV should be afforded relevant assistance from social services, law enforcement, healthcare practitioners, and other relevant services, regardless of their apparent level of resilience.

AB - IntroductionExposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) has been found to be associated with a multitude of poor health and quality of life outcomes. Among the risks exacerbated by IPV is prenatal depression. Resilience is hypothesized to protect against psychopathology after exposure to a traumatic influence. The present study aims to investigate resilience as a moderator of the effect of exposure to IPV on prenatal depression among pregnant women in Moshi, Tanzania.Material and methodsIn this cross‐sectional study, nested within a larger longitudinal study, pregnant women receiving antenatal care were interviewed about exposure to IPV, signs of depression using the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale, and resilience using the abbreviated Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale. Logistic regression was used to test the effect of the interaction term of resilience and exposure to IPV during pregnancy on the risk of high level of signs of depression.ResultsIn total, 1013 women completed all interviews, 300 women reported exposure to IPV, and 113 had high levels of signs of depression. Mean resilience score was 14.26 (SD 9.45). Exposure to IPV was correlated with signs of depression (adjusted odds ratio 6.49, 95% CI 3.75‐11.24). Resilience was not correlated with signs of depression, nor was the interaction term of resilience and exposure to IPV.ConclusionsThe study did not find that resilience acted as a moderator of the effect of exposure to IPV during pregnancy on the risk of prenatal depression. The cross‐sectional design of the study may not be well suited to investigate resilience, which could take time to manifest. The abbreviated Connor‐Davidson Resilience Scale has not been validated in a Tanzanian setting, or in the Swahili version. Practitioners should take note that all women and families affected by IPV should be afforded relevant assistance from social services, law enforcement, healthcare practitioners, and other relevant services, regardless of their apparent level of resilience.

KW - Faculty of Social Sciences

KW - Intimate partner violence

KW - pregnancy complications

KW - psychology

KW - prenatal depression

KW - resilience

KW - sub-Saharan Africa

U2 - 10.1111/aogs.14062

DO - 10.1111/aogs.14062

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33316080

VL - 100

SP - 768

EP - 774

JO - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

JF - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

SN - 0001-6349

IS - 4

ER -