UNDERSTANDING INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE DURING PREGNANCY IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, WITH A FOCUS ON TANZANIA

Intimate partner violence during pregnancy is a serious developmental and public health issue due to its numerous effects on the unborn child, their mother and the later development of the child. Although enormous and negative risk factors have been associated with this practice, 3 to 9 % of women still experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy (Shah and Shah, 2010). The leading causes ranged from age, matrimonial status, and poverty, and many others. Unfortunately, only western studies have informed us on the effect of Intimate Partner Violence during pregnancy. Still, very little is known on the phenomenon in low income regions such as Africa with reports high rate of violence against women. This is a is three steps study designed to look at the predictors of Intimate Partner Violence during pregnancy in low-and middle-income countries across sub-Saharan Africa with a special focus on Mzanza, Tanzania. Two methods is being currently discussed. The first will analyze the Demographic and Health Survey data in 25+ countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, and further utilize a longitudinal study of 1200 women on intimate partner violence in Tanzania that has already successfully collected the third wave of data.