Intimate Partner Violence among Women with Female Infertility

Abstract

Background: Violence against women is a serious abuse of human rights and an important public health problem that concerns all sectors of society worldwide. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue leading to the death of many people every year. Experience of infertility profoundly affects the personal well-being of women. Aim: to assess the prevalence, types of intimate partner violence and determine the factors influencing its occurrence against infertile women Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 246 infertile women referring to Adam international hospital in Cairo-Egypt in 2018. They were interviewed using a validated questionnaire for assessment of violence against women. Demographic data of infertile women and their husbands were collected. In addition, researcher-made questionnaire and general health questionnaire (were used). Results: In present study psychological violence was found to be the most common type of reported violence against infertile women followed by sexual and physical violence. Scurrility, humiliation and yelling and abstaining from sexual relationship were the most common type of psychological and sexual violence. The severity of IPV had a significant correlation with the social class of the woman, chronic disease of the husband, duration of marriage and trial of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Conclusion: psychological violence was found to be the most common type of reported violence against infertile women followed by sexual and physical violence. The severity of IPV had significant association with various socioeconomic and medical factors. Recommendations: Universal screening for intimate partner violence is still justified among women who are infertile, given the potential hazard to both pregnancy and future child. Screening of the victims and early intervention not only can help the woman, but also prevent child abuse later on.