Intimate partner violence and pregnancy outcomes among currently married women in India: evidence from NFHS-5

Intimate partner violence (IPV) remains a significant public health concern with important implications for women’s reproductive health. This study examines the associations of physical, sexual, and emotional intimate partner violence (IPV), any recent IPV, and lifetime IPV with a composite pregnancy outcome comprising miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth, compared with live birth, among currently married women in India. The analysis uses NFHS-5 data and applies multivariable logistic regression and multilevel modelling. The individual IPV dimensions and composite exposure indicators were examined according to their respective model specifications and based on 5,803 women aged 18–49 years who participated in the domestic violence module. The findings indicate that intimate partner violence (IPV) was associated with higher odds of the composite pregnancy outcome, which included miscarriage, induced abortion, and stillbirth, compared with live birth. Associations were observed for physical violence (AOR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09–1.65), and emotional violence (AOR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.05–1.32). Any recent IPV and lifetime IPV were also associated with higher odds of the composite outcome. Because IPV and pregnancy outcomes were assessed over overlapping recall periods, the temporal ordering of these events could not be established. The findings therefore indicate associations rather than causal effects. Overall, the findings highlight the role of multidimensional IPV in shaping women’s reproductive vulnerability in India and underscore the importance of integrating IPV screening within reproductive health services.