Intimate partner violence and common mental disorders experienced by women in Vietnam in mid-pregnancy

Introduction Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a major public health concern and an important contributor to common mental disorders during pregnancy. However, evidence on the association between intimate partner violence and common mental disorders among pregnant women remains limited in resource-constrained settings. The aim was to examine the association between IPV and common mental disorders (CMDs) among women in mid-pregnancy in Vietnam. Methods A secondary analysis of baseline data from the population-based, cluster-randomised Learning Clubs trial was conducted among pregnant women at 12–20 weeks’ gestation. Intimate partner violence was measured using the WHO Multi-country Study on Women’s Health and Domestic Violence questionnaire, and common mental disorders were assessed during mid-pregnancy with the Vietnamese-validated Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21). Results A total of 1238 pregnant women were included in the analysis, with 11.1% scoring above the clinical cut-off indicating clinically significant symptoms of CMDs. Multivariable logistic regression showed that women who had experienced either lifetime or past-12- months IPV, including physical and psychological IPV, were associated with increased odds of CMDs (AOR ranges: 1.96–3.04) among women in mid-pregnancy in Vietnam. Conclusions Intimate partner violence was significantly associated with increased odds of CMDs among pregnant women in rural Vietnam. These findings support integrating routine IPV enquiry and mental health assessment into antenatal care and ensuring appropriate referral and support for pregnant women experiencing violence. Policies and maternity services should strengthen integrated approaches to address IPV and maternal mental health.