Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Women Suffering from Infertility

Background: Domestic violence against women is a pervasive, insidious, and often hidden crime that
transcends geographical, cultural, and socioeconomic boundaries. Aim: to measure the prevalence of
Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among women suffering from infertility. Subjects: 191 married women
diagnosed with primary or secondary infertility. Method: A cross-sectional study design was used to
accomplish this study. Settings: The study was carried out at the Obstetrics and Gynecology outpatient
clinics at Beni-Suef University Hospital. Data Collection: using a self-administered interview form, the
NorVold Domestic Abuse Questionnaire (NorAQ) measures lifetime and current experiences of emotional,
physical, and sexual abuse. It consists of items requiring yes/no responses, with scores indicating the
presence and severity of each abuse type. Results: The results showed that previous divorce, longer years of
infertility, and previous surgery were statistically significant independent risk factors for women's exposure
to violence as measured by NorAQ. Conversely, their working status was a protective factor. Conclusion: a
substantial proportion of infertile women suffer from intimate partner violence. Their exposure to violence is
affected by couples’ demographics, as well as marriage and infertility characteristics. Recommendations:
Activation of community health nurses’ roles involving screening and early intervention, education and
training, advocacy and support, community outreach, and provision of resources.