Impact of Domestic Violence Against Saudi Arabian Married Women on their Reproductive Health Outcomes
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- Category: Vol. 77, September 2009
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Impact of Domestic Violence Against Saudi Arabian Married Women on their Reproductive Health Outcomes, SHADIA ABOUL AZM, WAFAA E. HASHEM and HODA A. ELEBIARY
Abstract
Violence against women is a serious violation of women’s human rights and of direct concern to the public health sector because of the significant contributions that public health workers could do if properly trained, as they are placed close to the victims and possibly well acquainted with the community and its inhabitants. Community health nurse has a crucial role in prevention and intervention strategies to minimize such a problem. This can be achieved through her contacts frequently with women to identify, screen and support those experiencing domestic violence.
Aim: To assess the impact of domestic violence against Saudi Arabian Married women on their reproductive health outcomes.
Design: Cross sectional descriptive design was used in this study.
Setting: The study was conducted in two main settings namely King Fahd Hospital of the University (KFHU) and Family & Community Health Center FAMCO. AlKhobar, Saudi Arabia.
Subjects: Convenient sample consisted of 350 married women aged 15 to 49 during third trimester of pregnancy up to two months postnatal women participated in this study.
Tools: Two tools were used in this study namely: "Struc-tured Interview Sheet", to assess socio-demographic charac-teristics and reproductive health history. "Domestic Violence Assessment Questionnaire", to assess different forms of domestic violence.
Results: According to the study, women who have low family income, low education and who first experience mar-riage suffer from violence more frequently. Abused women have higher numbers of live births, begin antenatal care late and have more number of abortions than non abused women. In addition, abused women have unplanned or unwanted pregnancy and lower using contraceptive methods.