Domestic violence and sexuality

Background: Women's reproductive health is closely related to the condition s in which intercourse is carried out with the sexual partner. Physical and emotional abuse is expressed as loss of bonds, reduction in self esteem an d deterioration in interpersonal relationships. Aim: To assess the effects of domestic violence on pregnant women attitudes towards sexual relations w ith their partners, and to critically analyze the dependence of these varia bles on biosociodemographic factors, socioeconomic status and family functi oning. Material and methods: Sixty three pregnant women with a domestic vio lence background (index group) and 43 women without such background (contro l group) were subjected to a structured survey including questions about bi osociodemographic variables, socioeconomic status, family relations, couple interactions and questions about attitudes toward sexual relations. Result s: Domestic violence was caused by the woman's partner or ex partner in 73% of cases. A greater family dysfunction and disturbance in the couple's rel ation was observed in the index group (p < 0,05). Association tests and mul tiple correspondence analysis did not show a clear correspondence between v ariables related to a woman's attitude towards sex relations and the risk o f domestic violence. Conclusions: This quantitative methodology was unable to identify the reasons, interpretations and meanings that women with a bac kground of violence, give to features associated with their sexuality.