Logo: to the web site of Uppsala University

INTRODUCTION: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a topic of global concern due to its adverse consequences for mental and physical health. The exposure to stressors, like IPV, has been linked to acute and chronic inflammation. During pregnancy, an altered inflammatory response is a risk factor for negative mental and physical health outcomes for mother and child. This study investigated the association between IPV and pro- and anti-inflammatory marker levels during pregnancy, and the potentially moderating role of antenatal depression.

METHODS: Data from the BASIC study, a Swedish prospective cohort study from 2009-2018, were used. Information on 316 women was obtained through questionnaires, national registry data, and the collection of blood samples in the third trimester of pregnancy. Using proximity extension assay technology, Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 levels were analysed. Mann-Whitney U test, Spearman’s tests, and robust univariable and multivariable linear regressions, including interaction models, were performed.

RESULTS: The bivariate analysis found lower median IL-8 levels in women with prior IPV exposure than in those without (p= 0.04). The robust linear regressions found no significant association between IPV exposure and inflammatory marker levels. No evidence for a moderating role of antenatal depression was detected.

CONCLUSION: While the results of this study might indicate that there is no association between IPV and inflammatory marker levels, the complex nature of the immune system, considering pregnancy and antenatal depression, and the interconnectedness with other determinants of health might have obscured the detection of an association. Further research is needed to provide clearer insights.