Associations Between Unintended Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault in a population of Queensland Women

Sharman, Leah; Douglas, Heather; Price, Elizabeth; Sheeran, Nicola; Dingle, Genevieve A.

doi:10.31234/osf.io/gncsp

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Further, this documentation may alleviate some patient experiences where they report difficulty accessing health workers who understand the potential severity of NFS and receiving referrals for scans or social work support. 47 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical evidence assisting non-fatal strangulation prosecution: a scoping review

2023

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ObjectivesNon-fatal strangulation (NFS) is a serious form of gendered violence that is fast becoming an offence in many jurisdictions worldwide. However, it often leaves little or no externally visible injuries making prosecution challenging. This review aimed to provide an overview of how health professionals can support the prosecution of criminal charges of NFS as part of regular practice, particularly when externally visible injuries are absent.MethodEleven databases were searched with terms related to NFS and medical evidence in health sciences and legal databases. Eligible articles were English language and peer reviewed, published before 30 June 2021; sample over 18 years that had primarily survived a strangulation attempt and included medical investigations of NFS injuries, clinical documentation of NFS or medical evidence related to NFS prosecution.ResultsSearches found 25 articles that were included for review. Alternate light sources appeared to be the most effective tool for finding evidence of intradermal injury among NFS survivors that were not otherwise visible. However, there was only one article that examined the utility of this tool. Other common diagnostic imaging was less effective at detection, but were sought after by prosecutors, particularly MRIs of the head and neck. Recording injuries and other aspects of the assault using standardised tools specific for NFS were suggested for documenting evidence. Other documentation included writing verbatim quotes of the experience of the assault and taking good quality photographs that could assist with corroborating a survivor’s story and proving intent, if relevant for the jurisdiction.ConclusionClinical responses to NFS should include investigation and standardised documentation of internal and external injuries, subjective complaints and the experience of the assault. These records can assist in providing corroborating evidence of the assault, reducing the need for survivor testimony in court proceedings and increasing the likelihood of a guilty plea.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Medical evidence assisting non-fatal strangulation prosecution: a scoping review

2023

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“…Thirdly, mental health problems, illicit drugs use and binge drinking have been associated with unplanned pregnancy [ 21 , 23 , 24 ]. Finally, sexual violence, intimate partner violence and coercion are associated with unplanned pregnancy [ 25 ]. Five to 7 % of the women who experienced rape reported that they got pregnant as a result of the rape [ 26 , 27 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Clustering of characteristics associated with unplanned pregnancies: the generation R study

et al. 2022

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Background Unplanned or unintended pregnancies form a major public health concern because they are associated with unfavorable birth outcomes as well as social adversity, stress and depression among parents-to-be. Several risk factors for unplanned pregnancies in women have previously been identified, but studies usually take a unidimensional approach by focusing on only one or few factors, disregarding the possibility that predictors might cluster. Furthermore, data on predictors in men are largely overlooked. The purpose of this study is to determine predictors of unplanned versus planned pregnancy, to determine predictors of ambivalent feelings regarding pregnancy, and to investigate how characteristics of men and women with an unplanned pregnancy cluster together. Methods This study was embedded in Generation R, a multiethnic population-based prospective cohort from fetal life onwards. Pregnancy intention was reported by 7702 women and 5367 partners. Information on demographic, mental, physical, social, and sexual characteristics was obtained. Logistic regression, multinomial regression and cluster analyses were performed to determine characteristics that were associated with an unplanned pregnancy, with ambivalent feelings regarding the unplanned pregnancy and the co-occurrence of characteristics in women and men with unplanned pregnancy. Results Twenty nine percent of the pregnancies were unplanned. Logistic regression analyses showed that 42 of 44 studied predictors were significantly associated with unplanned pregnancy. The most important predictors were young age, migration background, lower educational level, lower household income, financial difficulties, being single, lower cognitive ability, drug use prior to pregnancy, having multiple sexual partners in the year prior to the pregnancy, younger age of first sexual contact and a history of abortion. Multinomial regression analyses showed that a Turkish or Moroccan background, Islamic religion, little financial opportunities, being married, having ≥3 children, high educational level, more mental health and social problems and older age of first sexual contact were associated with prolonged ambivalent feelings regarding pregnancy. Different combinations of characteristics were observed in the four clusters of women and men with unplanned pregnancy. Conclusions Many predictors are related with unplanned pregnancies, ambivalent feelings toward the pregnancy, and we identified very heterogeneous groups of women and men with unplanned pregnancies. This calls for heterogeneous measures to prevent unplanned pregnancies.

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“…Reproductive health is particularly threatened since violent partners may force sexual intercourse, refuse to use contraception during intercourse, and restrict women's access to healthcare facilities (Miller et al., 2010). Women victims‐survivors of IPV are more likely to seek abortions (Coker, 2007; Fanslow et al., 2008), to contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs), to suffer sexual trauma and to develop pelvic inflammatory disease than non‐abused women (Hunter et al., 2017; Sharman et al., 2018). In addition, female survivors of violence have a higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (Trevillion et al., 2012), sleep disorders (Pengpid & Peltzer, 2020), depression (Beydoun et al., 1982) and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Husky et al., 2015; Jaspard et al., 2001; McCauley et al., 1995).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Violence against women and perceived health: An observational survey of patients treated in the multidisciplinary structure ‘The Women’s House’ and two Family Planning Centres in the metropolitan Paris area

Roland

Ahogbehossou

Hatem

et al. 2022

Health Social Care Comm

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It is unknown how many women seeking care at French Family Planning Centres (FPCs) endure, or have endured intimate partner violence (IPV). To assess the prevalence of IPV, we surveyed women seeking care at three FPCs in the metropolitan Paris area (Seine‐Saint‐Denis). We examined the associations between IPV, socio‐demographic characteristics and perceptions of health according to six indicators. Of the FPCs included in our survey, two are standalone facilities and one is located in The Women's Home, a multidisciplinary structure dedicated to serving survivors of violence. We conducted an observational survey from December 2018 to February 2019. All women aged 18 years and older were eligible. We solicited data on socio‐demographic factors, general stability and history of violence. We measured health status on a 10‐point scale for six different symptoms. Of the 274 women who participated, 27% had experienced IPV. Women who reported experiencing, or having experienced IPV were more likely to be between 25 and 44 years old (than under 25), temporarily documented or undocumented, unemployed or seeking employment, and experiencing housing insecurity. Women seeking care at The Women's House were more than twice as likely to report IPV (42%) than those visiting FPC‐2 or FPC‐3 (20% and 16%, respectively). Reports of violence increase among women with uncertain legal status, housing, employment and lower self‐rated health. Results suggest that a FPC located in a structure specifically dedicated to serving women victims‐survivors of violence like the Women's House may be more attractive to survivors.

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Associations Between Unintended Pregnancy, Domestic Violence, and Sexual Assault in a population of Queensland Women

Cited by 4 publications

References 0 publications

Medical evidence assisting non-fatal strangulation prosecution: a scoping review

Medical evidence assisting non-fatal strangulation prosecution: a scoping review

Clustering of characteristics associated with unplanned pregnancies: the generation R study

Violence against women and perceived health: An observational survey of patients treated in the multidisciplinary structure ‘The Women’s House’ and two Family Planning Centres in the metropolitan Paris area

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