'It is a hard decision': A qualitative study of women's experiences with perinatal intimate partner violence disclosure

Background: Perinatal intimate partner violence is a hidden under reported and difficult to identify problem which has negative effects on mother and child. The present study aimed to explore women's experiences with perinatal intimate partner violence disclosure. Methods This qualitative study was carried out from October 2019 to January 2021 in Mashhad, Iran. Participants included 23 abused women (11 pregnant and 12 postpartum) which were selected via purposive sampling. Semi-structured in-depth interviews and focus group discussion were conducted until the data saturation was achieved. The data analysis was performed based on conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim & Lundman. Results The main themes "barriers to disclosure" and "facilitators of disclosure" were emerged as the result of data analysis. Barriers to disclosure included negative disclosure consequences. Facilitators of disclosure included maternal self-efficacy, intensity of violence, and formal and informal supportive networks. Conclusions Most abused women did not disclose violence despite routine screening for perinatal intimate partner violence in antenatal care. Recognizing the barriers to and facilitators of violence disclosure play an important role in eliminating barriers, strengthen facilitators, providing effective supportive services for abused women, and reducing perinatal violence. Focus on the barriers to and facilitators of disclosure will be useful to policymakers, health program planners, and health care providers to identify and manage intimate partner violence, appropriately.