Intimate partner violence in Turkey among women with female infertility

ABSTRACT

In developing countries, failing to conceive is a life crisis with effects on an individual's social life, including stigmatization, loss of social status, marital instability and even conflicts of gender. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between female infertility and intimate partner violence (IPV) in Turkey. This was a cross-sectional study including women with primary infertility who were admitted to University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center Hospital between August 2014 and February 2015. IPV was assessed using an Abuse Assessment Screen. Of the 142 participants, 68 (47.9%) confirmed the presence of IPV in their lives. The most common type of violence was psychological, with a prevalence of 76.5% (n = 52), followed by physical, sexual and both physical and sexual abuse, with 17.6% (n = 12), 4.4% (n = 3) and 1.5% (n = 1) prevalence, respectively. Women of low educational and economic level and women living in a compound family were found to be at greater risk for IPV. This high prevalence indicates that Turkey requires new policy for IPV immediately.

KEYWORDS:

• intimate partner violence (IPV)
• Abuse Assessment Screen (AAS) questionnaire
• domestic violence
• female infertility

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Funda Akpinar

Funda Akpinar is an OBGYN at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center. She received her certificate in ART in the same institution. Her recent research interests are infertility and high risk pregnancies.

Saynur Yilmaz

Saynur Yilmaz is an assistant professor of infertility at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center.

Ertugrul Karahanoglu

Ertugrul Karahanoglu is a medical doctor at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center. He received his certificate in perinatology in the same institution.

Runa Ozelci

Runa Ozelci is an OBGYN at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center.

Bora Coskun

Bora Coskun is an OBGYN at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center. He is a member of board of directors of Turkish Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Berna Dilbaz

Berna Dilbaz is a professor of infertility at the University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center. She is a lecturer in Assisted Voluntary Surgical Contraception (AVSC-USAID) and safe motherhood programme of Republic of Turkey Ministry of Health. She works as a consultant in safe motherhood programme of European Union and Turkey Reproductive Health Program.

Özlem Moraloğlu Tekin

Özlem Moraloğlu Tekin is an assistant professor of OBGYN and the hospital director of University of Health Sciences Ankara Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Health Practice Research Center.