A cross-sectional study on domestic violence among infertile women in western Iran

Abstract

Background: To date, no study has examined domestic violence among infertile women in western Iran. Aims: This study aims to investigate the prevalence of domestic violence among infertile women in the region. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at the infertility clinic in Hamadan. A total of 200 eligible infertile women, with a mean age of 31.48 ± 4.57 years, were recruited for the study. The Domestic Violence Questionnaire (DVQ) was administered to all participants. Data analysis was performed using Stata Statistical Software (version 17), with a significance level set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: This study included 200 infertile women with an average age of 31.48 ± 4.57 years. The mean duration of infertility was 1.9 ± 0.76 years. Regarding education, approximately 66% of the women and 69% of their spouses had completed high school or attained a diploma. Female-related causes accounted for 72.5% of infertility cases. Among the participants, 59.4% reported experiencing domestic violence. Emotional violence scored the highest percentage (67.5%), while sexual violence had the lowest percentage (43.63%). Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between age, spouse’s education level, frequency of sexual intercourse, and the level of violence experienced by women. Conclusion: The findings of this study reveal that 59.4% of women experienced various forms of domestic violence. Moreover, significant associations were observed between domestic violence and factors such as age, spouse’s education level, and frequency of sexual intercourse.