CHICAGO, Nov 23 (AFP) - A new study released Tuesday offers evidence that domestic violence against women can increase the spread of sexually transmitted diseases and cause unwanted pregnancies.

Although the research was conducted in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, its implications go beyond that region's borders.

Published in the latest edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the study found nearly half of the 6,632 men interviewed in the northern Indian state had either physically or sexually abused their wives.

Researchers found a significant link between abused wives and unwanted pregnancies, as well as a correlation between, on the one hand, abusive husbands who also have extra-marital sex, and on the other, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including the HIV virus that causes AIDS.

"Findings from this study may help explain the increase in HIV found among monogamous married women in India; it may be that many wives who are abused by their non-monogamous husbands are also at increased risk of STD/HIV infection from these men," said Sandra Martin, one of the authors.

Martin, an associate professor in the Department of Maternal and Child Health at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said the data clearly had implications for population issues.

But more pressingly, it revealed the need for all women to be screened for violence so they could be offered the appropriate help, particularly with regard to appropriate advice on contraceptive methods.

In some circumstances, the standard advice to use condoms as a way of preventing STD infection might be impracticable.

"Clinicians need to cooperate more closely with workers in domestic violence and battered-wives programs," Martin said.

In total, 46 percent of men from across the social and economic spectrum reported abusing their wives in some form, the study said.

Of these, 17 percent admitted physically abusing their wives, while 22 percent were sexually abusive without using physical force. The remaining seven percent were sexually abusive and used physical force.

991123
AF991131

Copyright © AFP or Agence France-Presse, 1999 - AFP stories and photos shall not be published, broadcast, rewritten for broadcast or publication or redistributed directly or indirectly in any medium. AFP news material may not be stored in whole or in part in a computer except for personal and non-commercial use. AFP will not be held liable for any delays, inaccuracies, errors or omissions in any AFP news material or in transmission or delivery of all or any part thereof or for any damages whatsoever. As a newswire service AFP does not obtain releases from subjects, individuals, groups or entities contained in its photographs, graphics or quoted in its texts. Further, that no clearance is obtained from the owners of any trademarks or copyrighted materials whose marks and materials are included in AFP photos or materials. Therefore you will be solely responsible for obtaining any and all necessary releases from whatever individuals and/or entities necessary for any uses of AFP stories, photos or graphics.  http://www.afp.com/