Health locus of control in infertile women and its relationship with some demographic characteristics in Bushehr Omid Persian Gulf Fertility and Infertility Center

Health locus of control is a psychological concept reflecting the individual’s opinion about how one’s life events could be explicated by one’s actions. Infertility, as a basic problem for women, needs a special consideration and professional help. Predicting infertile couple’s health behaviors has a significant role in treatment follow-up at this sensitive stage of their life. The current study aimed to determine the three components of health locus of control in infertile women and the relationship between these components and some demographic characteristics of these infertile women in Bushehr Omid Persian Gulf Fertility and Infertility Center. This cross-sectional analytical study recruited 200 infertile women who met the inclusion criteria, and were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected by a demographic and Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Form B questionnaire, and were analyzed in SPSS version 18. Based on the findings of this study, the highest mean score pertained to internal belief component (27.31±4.47), and the lowest to chance component (18.08±5.12). The mean score related to the internal belief of the women with higher education was significantly higher than that in other women. The mean score related to chance in women with elementary education was significantly higher than that in women with high school diploma and higher education (p˂0.005). The mean score related to internal belief in women with moderate economic status was significantly higher than that in women with low economic status. Pearson’s correlation test showed a significant and direct relationship between chance and age (P=0.003). According to these results, infertile women who attended the clinic in Bushehr had a higher mean score in internal locus of control than in external locus of control. The most prominent relationship was observed between the level of education and health locus of control. Therefore, training can lead people toward the internal locus of control. This can help people with better education to manage health-related problems better.