Peer-reviewed article

Investigating the relationship between intimate partner violence, reproductive health and pregnancy outcome: a systematic review.

Malikeh Amel Barez, Fatemeh Goudarzi, Nader Sharifi, Ali Ahmadi, Alireza Sharifi et al. · 24 Dec 2025

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a universal problem that exists in most countries of the world. Worldwide, one third of women will experience physical or sexual violence in their lifetime, mainly by intimate partner. IPV can affected on reproductive health and lead to serious injury and death of mother and baby. Current systematic review was conducted with the aim of determining the relationship between intimate partner violence, reproductive health and pregnancy outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Study performed based on "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses" (PRISMA) by PICO components. The literature review was conducted using the electronic medical databases were searched using the equivalent keywords without starting time limit, up to January 2024. Medical subject headings with Boolean operators, and the proportionate keywords as follows: (fertility OR pregnancy OR child bearing) AND (intimate partner violence OR domestic violence) in title, abstract and keywords of articles were used. Inclusion criteria were published observational studies and clinical trials in English language. Studies participants considered women with a history of IPV and fertility as an outcome. Data extracted according to a predefined checklist. Two investigators independently examined title, abstract, and full-text screening. The study selection, quality assess, and extraction of data were independently by two researchers. Inconsistencies resolved by a third researcher. FINDINGS: A total of 1834 documents were retrieved that finally; 39 articles were reviewed. About 50% of the articles were related to the last five years. Relationship between IPV and intention to have children through "unwanted and unintended pregnancy", "contraception use", "contraception use and types of IPV and unmet need for contraception use" has a contradictory effect. Additionally, relationship between IPV and pregnancy outcomes through "maternal health", "pregnancy", "number of children and childbirth intervals" and "fetal outcomes" has a contradictory effect in different ways. According to the results, women subjected to violence may face an increased risk of pregnancy complications, abortion, stillbirth and infant death. Also, intimate partner violence may increase the incidence of induced abortion among women experiencing violence. CONCLUSION: According to this review study, intimate partner violence can affect the reproductive health, and pregnancy outcome. Therefore, violence against women by the husband should be given more attention and solutions should be considered at the social and individual level for improve the reproductive health and pregnancy outcome.