[ reproductive health status of women with experience of violence in harm reduction centers in Tehran, 2010]

ABSTRACT

Due to complications and consequences of violence against women and limited information about reproductive health issues in women with experience of violence, this survey was carried out to assess reproductive health status of these women in harm reduction centers in Tehran in 2010. This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 69 out of 75 vulnerable women who were clients of harm reduction centers, and experienced at least one type of violence [emotional, physical, and sexual]. Data collection tools were questionnaires and data collection method was structured interview. The questionnaire had five dimensions, demographics, reproductive health, sexual performance, sexual behavior, and violence. Data was analyzed with SPSS 18; descriptive and analytic statistics were applied. Mean age of participants was 34.3[9.6] years and 37.7% of them were divorced. Mean age at first marriage was 16.7 [2.5] years and mean age at first sexual relationship was 16.1 [4.8] years. Illiteracy observed among 17.4% of participants. Among these women, 69.3% reported all three types of violence; furthermore, 85.3%, 86.7%, and 76% reported physical, emotional and sexual violence, respectively. 62.9% had unwanted pregnancy and 51.6% had an abortion. Contraception was completely ignored in 46.5% of participants. Among eligible women, 52.2% never participated in cervical cancer screening examination, 82.4% of them had sexual dysfunction, 39.1% of them had anal sex and 34.8% had oral sex. Despite of access to reproductive health services, many of these women had poor reproductive health conditions. Greater support and proper interventions can lead to better results for these women