Spousal Abuse Against Women and Its Consequences on Reproductive Health: A Study in the Urban Slums in Bangladesh |
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Authors: | Md Abdus Salam Md Abdul Alim Toshikuni Noguchi |
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Institution: | (1) Department of Statistics, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Bangladesh;(2) Department of Archeology, Jahangirnagar University, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh;(3) Department of Forest Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Shinshu University, Minamiminowa Nagano, 399-4598, Japan |
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Abstract: | Objectives: Spousal violence is common and results in costly problems both for society and for the reproductive health of women. Despite
the recognition that violence may be associated with serious consequences for women's reproductive health, our understanding
of the relationship between the two remains limited. In this study, we assessed the association between spousal violence and
women's reproductive health. Methods: Data from an interviewer-administered questionnaire assessing socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral profiles, and spousal
violence-related information was collected from 496 women. Subjects were chosen from eight randomly selected urban slums from
four metropolitan cities. Results: Spousal violence was significantly higher amongst the group of less educated women who had been in several marriages; indicating
that the social and behavioral traits of women act as catalysts for spousal violence. Abusive husbands also had been married
several times and were more likely to be addicted to alcohol or drugs. This demonstrates that the behavioral traits of husbands
were also responsible for spousal violence. Spousal violence injuries adversely affect the health and well-being of women.
More than three-quarters of physically violated women suffered injuries as a result of this violence. About 50% of these injuries
were minor and about 10% serious. Sexual violence adversely affected women's health; more than 80% of sexually violated women
complained of pelvic pain, more than 50% reported reproductive tract infections, and more than 50% reported symptoms of irritable
bowel syndrome. Abused women suffered from gynecological problems at the time of pregnancy significantly more than non-abused
women (p<0.05) and abused women suffered from reproductive tract infections significantly more than non-abused women (p<0.01). Abusive husbands suffered from sexually transmitted diseases (STD) significantly more than non-abusive husbands (p<0.05). Abused women used contraception significantly less than non-abused women (p<0.01). Logistic regression analysis suggested that spousal violence was the most important contributing factor for reproductive
health problems in women. Conclusions: The findings of this study may enhance our understanding of the impact of spousal violence against women and their reproductive
health and therefore highlight the importance of spousal violence prevention measures. Increasing the awareness and understanding
of the relationship between violence against women and reproductive health could be achieved if lawyers, researchers, clinicians,
practitioners, and government workers from multiple disciplines and agencies worked together. |
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Keywords: | spousal violence reproductive health gynecological disorder reproductive tract infection sexually transmitted disease urban slums Bangladesh |
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