Pregnancy coercion, intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy☆
Received 24 September 2009; received in revised form 3 December 2009; accepted 4 December 2009. published online 29 January 2010.
Abstract
Background
Reproductive control including pregnancy coercion (coercion by male partners to become pregnant) and birth control sabotage (partner interference with contraception) may be associated with partner violence and risk for unintended pregnancy among young adult females utilizing family planning clinic services.
Study Design
A cross-sectional survey was administered to females ages 16–29 years seeking care in five family planning clinics in Northern California (N=1278).
Results
Fifty-three percent of respondents reported physical or sexual partner violence, 19% reported experiencing pregnancy coercion and 15% reported birth control sabotage. One third of respondents reporting partner violence (35%) also reported reproductive control. Both pregnancy coercion and birth control sabotage were associated with unintended pregnancy (AOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.36–2.46, and AOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.14–2.20, respectively). In analyses stratified by partner violence exposure, associations of reproductive control with unintended pregnancy persisted only among women with a history of partner violence.
Conclusions
Pregnancy coercion and birth control sabotage are common among young women utilizing family planning clinics, and in the context of partner violence, are associated with increased risk for unintended pregnancy.
☆ Funding sources for this study are the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R21 HD057814-02 to Miller and Silverman); UC Davis Health System Research Award to Miller; and Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women's Health award to Miller (BIRCWH, K12 HD051958; National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Office of Research on Women's Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institute of Aging).
ABSTRACT