Socially-Deviant Middle Eastern Women at a Great Risk of Poor Reproductive Health

BACKGROUND: It is important to examine scale and scope of the reproductive health among socially-vulnerable women. The study was aimed at testing the hypothesis that as compared to general population, reproductive health is poorer among socially-vulnerable women. METHODS: We enrolled 100 cases and 203 controls conducted from January 2010 to January 2011. Cases were socially-vulnerable women seeking care from Tehran’s Center for Improving Social Health of Socially-Damaged Women (Specific Center for Socially-Vulnerable Women). Controls were women referring to health centers of Tehran. RESULTS: Mean age of cases and controls were 34.1 years and 33.8 years, respectively. Unwanted pregnancy was reported by 62.9% of cases and 33% of controls. Among socially-vulnerable women, 50.6% of abortions were reported to happen during the period in which they were using drugs. Among cases, 45.7% reported to give birth to low birth weight newborns and for controls was 11.7%. Among cases with low birth weight child, 64.9% used drug during pregnancy. Birth control was reported by 81.5% of cases and 92.8% controls. The most common method of contraception was condom among both cases (66%) and controls (31.2%). At least one screening test for cervical cancer was reported by 82.8% of controls and for 47% of cases. Mean age at first sexual intercourse was 15.7 years among cases and 20.9 years among controls. Mean Sexual Performance Scale score was lower among cases (22.3) than controls (25.9) and sexual dysfunction was more prevalent among cases (80.6%) than controls (59.1%). CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of reproductive health disorders was documented among socially-damaged women as compared to the women from general population.