Leila Allahqoli et al. Social damaged women: A Qualitative study in Tehran, Iran, Discovery, 2015, 27(99), 63-72, www.discovery.org.in www.discovery.org.in/d.htm © 2015 Discovery Publication. All Rights Reserved Page63 Social damaged women: A Qualitative study in Tehran, Iran Leila Allahqoli 1 , Zhila Abeed Saeedi 2 , Ali Azin 3 , Sepideh Hajian 4҉ , Hamid Alavi M ajd 5 , Nader Molavi 6 , Hoda Ahmari Tehran 7 1. PhD Student of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran 2. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Medical Surgical, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 3. Assistant Professor, Reproductive Biotechnology Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute (ACECR), Tehran, Iran 4. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Reproductive Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (Corresponding Author) ҉ 5. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Biostatistics, Faculty of Para medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 6. PhD Student of Addiction Research, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran 7. Research Center for Medicine and Religion, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran Publication History Received: 13 November 2014 Accepted: 27 December 2014 Published: 4 January 2015 Citation Leila Allahqoli, Zhila Abeed Saeedi, Ali Azin, Sepideh Hajian, Hamid Alavi Majd, Nader Molavi, Hoda Ahmari Tehran. Social damaged women: A Qualitative study in Tehran, Iran. Discovery, 2015, 27(99), 63-72 ABSTRACT Social damage etiology in women is multi factorial. Nowadays, the variety of social damages and at risk people have changed and increased. The purpose of this article is to determine the effective factors on damage in the social damaged women in Tehran. Qualitative method was utilized. Two focus group discussions (FGDs) and eighteen semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with SDW, 15-45 years old, at shelters and harm-reduction drop-in-centers in Tehran between February to May 2013. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling. All interviews were recorded and typed word for word. Data was analyzed using content analysis approach. The mean age of the participants was 30 years; all of them had at least elementary school education. All women in the study were sexually active. The majority of participants were divorced, and 88 % of them were addict. Three of the drug abuser were injection drug users and infected with HIV and three of them were infected with hepatitis. Two-thirds of participants were homeless and more than two-thirds of them were prostitutes. Findings of this study can be grouped in two main categories: social and personal factors. Social factors include family factor, inadequate training, the role of high-risk bystander and community factors. Personal factors include personality characteristics, non-favorable healthy background, previous high risk experience, factors related to individual's perceptions, and demographics. To protect vulnerable women from social damages, a realistic prevention planning is needed to provide support for those more susceptible to harm, and to provide them with education and employment, as well as guidance for them to become self-sufficient and independent. This plan will also help to recognize the talents and capabilities of t hese vulnerable women and guide them to better utilize these capabilities. Discovery ANALYSIS The International Daily journal ISSN 2278 – 5469 EISSN 2278 – 5450