Factors Associated with Conjugal Violence Among Pregnant Women in Public Hospitals of Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia During the Covid-19 Pandemic Lockdown: A Cross Sectional Study

Background: Conjugal violence, also known as spousal abuse or intimate partner violence is defined as behavior within an intimate relationship that causes physical, sexual, or psychological harm. This includes acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behaviors. In Ethiopia, the prevalence of Conjugal violence is high at more than 41.1%. Therefore, it is crucial to assess the prevalence and associated factors of Conjugal violence against pregnant women in southern Ethiopia during the case of pandemic related lockdown.Material and Methods: The study included 994 pregnant women with 28 weeks of gestational age in a facility-based setting. Researchers used a pretest on 5% of the total sample size and simple random sampling to select study subjects. SPSS version-24 computer software was used to enter and analyze data. Descriptive statistics and a logistic regression model identified factors associated with the outcome variable. Results were presented using an adjusted odds ratio with the corresponding 95% confidence interval.Result: This study found that 33.1% of pregnant women experienced Conjugal violence. The study also found that educational status, partner’s monthly income, length of marital relationship, employment, adverse pregnancy outcome, number of people living in a household, and desire of the current pregnancy were found to have a statistically significant association with Conjugal violence against pregnant women attending Antenatal care.Conclusion: Conjugal violence against pregnant women is high in southern Ethiopia during pandemic related lockdown.