Abstract

Aim: To describe the profile of the women assigned to the Violence Program who have submitted physical violence during pregnancy in Punta Arenas, Chile. Methods: Retrospective descriptive study with a quantitative approach. 59 women were interviewed using the WHO instrument on violence against women, modified Version 9.1 for Chile. Results: Prevalence of violence during pregnancy corresponded to 28.8%. Most of the time, the aggressor was the intimate partner and 52.9% declared that the blows or kicks were in the abdomen. 100% presented severe and mild physical and psychological violence, and 70.6% presented sexual violence. 58.8% were between 15 and 29 years at the time of experiencing violence. 35,5% were catholic women who have finished high school, worked outside home, lived together with an intimate partner, had three or more children, and belonged to a middle and lower middle socioeconomic strata. Manifestations of violence which were related to physical violence during pregnancy were slapping or throwing things that could hurt them (p=0.000). Severe physical violence included punching or being hurt with something that could hurt them (p=0.006); kicking, dragging on the ground or being beaten (p=0.004); strangling on purpose (p=0.010), and appearance of injuries (p=0.048). Factors related to manifestations of physical violence in pregnancy were: intimate partner's educational level (graduated high school or less than high school education (p=0.047), employment status of women (p=0.018) and the intimate partner history ofphysical fights with other men (p=0,046). Conclusion: The findings obtained in this study give us the opportunity to visualize the phenomenon of physical violence during pregnancy, contributing to early identification of pregnant women at increased risk in order to provide timely intervention, minimizing the serious consequences for women and children.