The General Health Quality among Fertile and InfertileWomen in Babol, Iran

Background: Women's health especially maternal health is abasic concept of development and socioeconomic welfare. Theaim of the present s tudy was to compare the general health quality(GHQ) among infertile and fertile women in Babol (Iran).Materials and Methods: In this case-control s tudy, we comparedthe general GHQ of ۲۵۰ infertile women with the GHQ of۲۵۰ fertile women with at leas t one child. The case group wasbased on the Reproductive Health and Infertility Research centerdata from a cohort s tudy that is collecting data and the controlgroup included fertile women referring to Babol prenatal clinics.The General Health Ques tionnaire – ۲۸ (GHQ-۲۸) was usedfor measure the psychological aspect of the participants.Results: The mean of GHQ score (P=۰.۰۱۹), scales of somaticcomplains (P<۰.۰۰۰۱) and anxiety (P=۰.۰۰۹) in the fertile groupwere significantly higher than infertile group. The dis tributionof general health morbid symptoms was higher in fertile womenthan in infertile women (P=۰.۰۴۱). While the mean score ofsocial dysfunctions (P=۰.۰۱۸) and morbid symptoms of socialfunctioning in infertile women was significantly higher thanfertile women (P=۰.۰۳۵). Also, after controlling a confoundingvariable, the chance of general health morbid symptoms was۳.۱ times higher than infertile women (AOR = ۳.۱۹, CI ۹۵%:۱.۴۴, ۷.۱۰).Conclusion: Based on the results, in order to improve the generalhealth of fertile women as well as infertile women, it is necessaryto emphasize the training courses to provide counselingto women and health policy makers should pay special attentionto the health s tatus of fertile women by creating various fields.

کلیدواژه ها:

Female ، Fertility ، Infertility ، Mental Health ، Women'sHealth