Prakasini Satapathy, Abhay M. Gaidhane, Nasir Vadia, Soumya V. Menon, Kattela Chennakesavulu, Rajashree Panigrahi, Ganesh Bushi, Mahendra Singh, Sanjit Sah, Awakash Turkar, S. Govinda Rao, Khang Wen Goh, Muhammed Shabil, Edward Mawejje
Background: Hypertensive disorders during pregnancy (HDP) are a significant global health concern, affecting 5–10 % of pregnancies and contributing to maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. While various factors, including genetics and physiological changes, influence the development of HDP, emerging evidence suggests a strong association with psychosocial stressors, particularly exposure to violence. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the association between exposure to violence and risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Methods: A literature review was performed across EMBASE, PubMed, and Web of Science from their inception until October 2024. The review included observational studies that examined exposure to various type of violence and their association with hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Pooled effect estimates, including odds ratios (ORs) and relative risks (RRs) were computed using a random-effects model. Results: Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis revealed that violence exposure during pregnancy was associated with a significantly increased risk of HDP, with a pooled OR of 1.380 (95 % CI: 1.079–1.765) and a pooled RR of 1.235 (95 % CI: 1.074–1.420). Subgroup analysis indicated that cohort studies demonstrated a stronger association (OR: 1.726, 95 % CI: 1.182–2.519) compared to cross-sectional studies (OR: 1.112, 95 % CI: 1.009–1.226). Conclusion: Experiencing violence during pregnancy is significantly linked to a heightened risk of HDP, indicating the need for regular violence screening and early preventive measures in prenatal care. Public health initiatives focused on reducing violence against women, especially during pregnancy, are crucial for improving maternal health and lowering the incidence of hypertensive complications. © 2025 The Authors
Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, India; Faculty of Data Science and Information Technology, INTI International University, Nilai, Malaysia; Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, and Global Health Academy, School of Epidemiology and Public Health. Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education, Wardha, India; Marwadi University Research Center, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Marwadi University, Gujarat, Rajkot, 360003, India; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Sciences, JAIN (Deemed to be University), Karnataka, Bangalore, India; Department of Chemistry, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, India; Department of Microbiology, IMS and SUM Hospital, Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Deemed to be University), Odisha, Bhubaneswar, 751003, India; School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, India; Department of Biotechnology, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University), Clement Town, Dehradun, 248002, India; Graphic Era Hill University, Clement Town, Dehradun, India; Department of Paediatrics, Dr. D. Y. Patil Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-be-University), Pimpri, Maharashtra, Pune, 411018, India; Department of Public Health Dentistry, Dr. D.Y. Patil Dental College and Hospital, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed-to-be-University), Maharashtra, Pune, 411018, India; Department of Medicine, Korea Universtiy, Seoul, South Korea; Centre for Research Impact and Outcome, Chitkara University Institute of Engineering and Technology, Chitkara University, Punjab, Rajpura, 140401, India; Division of Research and Innovation, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, India; Department of Data Science, Gokaraju Rangaraju Institute of Engineering and Technology, Bachupally, Telangana, Hyderabad, 500090, India; Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Padang, Padang, Indonesia; Global Center for Evidence Synthesis, Chandigarh, 160036, India; Medical Laboratories Techniques Department, AL-Mustaqbal University, Babil, Hillah, 51001, Iraq; School of Public Health, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Mulago Hill, Kampala, Uganda
