The relationship between domestic violence against women, adaptation to pregnancy and maternal-fetal antenatal attachment

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the relationship between domestic violence against women, adaptation to pregnancy, and maternal-fetal antenatal attachment. Design and Methods: The study consisted of 385 pregnant women who were referred to the antenatal clinics of a public hospital in eastern Turkey. The data were collected using the Domestic Violence against Women Scale (DVAWS), the Maternal-Fetal Antenatal Attachment Scale (MAAS), and the Prenatal Self-Evaluation Questionnaire (PSEQ) to assess adaptation to pregnancy. Findings: Pregnant women were exposed to low level of violence (Mean ± SD: 64.42 ± 5.30). A statistically significant positive correlation was found between their DVAWS and PSEQ mean scores. There was also a statistically significant positive correlation between their DVAWS and MAAS mean scores. Practice Implications: Findings show that as domestic violence against women increased, adaptation to pregnancy decreased and maternal-fetal attachment increased. © 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC