Prevalence and associated factors of post-traumatic stress disorder among women with an experience of intimate partner violence (IPV): Insights from urban slums of Bangladesh.

Despite high rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women, research on its mental health consequences, particularly PTSD in slum settings, remains scarce. This study assessed PTSD prevalence and determinants among slum-dwelling women in Bangladesh who experienced IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and October 2022 among 291 women from 5 urban slums in Dhaka, who reported IPV using the World Health Organisation questionnaire. Face-to-face interviews collected sociodemographic data, pandemic-related challenges, gender roles, health information and PTSD symptoms using the validated Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist-5. Logistic regression identified PTSD predictors. Most women were married before the age of 18 years (87.9%), unemployed (69.3%), had no formal schooling (38.6%) and lived in overcrowded households (38.6%). Over half of their husbands were daily wage earners (57.9%) and had a history of substance misuse (65.9%). PTSD prevalence was 21.16% and was higher among women with non-communicable diseases (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.6-6.7), concern about COVID-19 infection (AOR: 3.87; 95% CI: 1.12-13.22) and increased marital arguments (AOR: 3.00; 95% CI: 1.57-5.74). IPV in slum settings imposes a significant PTSD burden, highlighting the need for community-based mental health services to support marginalised women.