Violence in the shadows: how intimate partner violence shapes pregnancy outcomes in rural Uttar Pradesh, India

Background: Globally, nearly 30% of women experience intimate partner violence (IPV), and in India, NFHS-5 reports that 27% of women face physical and 6.7% sexual violence by their husbands. IPV during pregnancy increases maternal stress and is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including low birth weight and preterm birth. This study examines the association between psychosocial conditions within intimate partnerships and adverse birth outcomes in a rural setting of Uttar Pradesh. Methodology: A case–control study was conducted in Raebareli district, Uttar Pradesh, including 425 recently delivered women (212 cases with LBW/preterm births and 213 controls without low-birth-weight babies). Results: Approximately 20% (83/425) of women reported experiencing IPV (physical or emotional) during pregnancy. Among these, 72.9% had adverse outcomes. Specifically, 63 women (75%) had LBW infants, and 34 women (40%) reported physical violence such as hitting, slapping, or pushing (OR=4.32; 95% CI: 2.02–9.27; z=3.7), indicating a statistically significant association between IPV and adverse outcomes. Conversely, 193 women (45%) reported receiving high levels of emotional and practical support from their partners. Among them, 61% delivered normal birth weight babies, with partner support reducing the risk of LBW by 22% (OR=0.459; 95% CI: 0.31–0.67; p