Does Physical Intimate Partner Violence Affect Sexual Health?

Abstract

Forty years of published research (1966-2006) addressing physical intimate partner violence (IPV) and sexual health was reviewed (51 manuscripts) and synthesized to determine (a) those sexual health indicators for which sufficient evidence is available to suggest a causal association and (b) gaps in the literature for which additional careful research is needed to establish causality and explain mechanisms for these associations. Sexual health was defined as a continuum of indicators of gynecology and reproductive health. IPV was consistently associated with sexual risk taking, inconsistent condom use, or partner nonmonogamy (23 of 27 studies), having an unplanned pregnancy or induced abortion (13 of 16 studies), having a sexually transmitted infection (17 of 24 studies), and sexual dysfunction (17 of 18 studies). A conceptual model was presented to guide further needed research addressing direct and indirect mechanisms by which physical, sexual, and psychological IPV affects sexual health.

Are There Differences in the Impact of Partner Violence on Reproductive Health Between Postpartum Women and Women Who Had an Elective Abortion?

“…13,14,23,34 The scientific literature has highlighted that victimised women face compromised decision making regarding contraceptive use and family planning. 11,35,36 Our results are congruent with the literature: in both groups of women, we found a lack of joint couple decision making on contraception, but interestingly the magnitude of the effect on outcomes was higher among PP women. This could indicate that EA women with a violent partner may have more agency than PP women who are in the same situation.…”

Prevalence of Intimate Partner Violence Victimization and Victims’ Relational and Sexual Well-Being

“…To date, there is evidence that (physical) IPV victimization is associated with increased prevalence of sexual risk-taking behaviors, which in turn leads to an increased risk of sexually transmitted diseases, more unwanted pregnancies and abortions, an increased likelihood of dyspareunia, and a lack of sexual pleasure (for an overview, see Coker 2007). Yet, at this point, it has remained unstudied how lifetime IPV experiences might undermine victims 'current sexual well-being and sexual communication at the relationship level.…”

The Role of Stress, Depression, and Violence on Unintended Pregnancy Among Young Urban Women

“…7,14,15 Resiliency theory provides a conceptual framework to examine why some young women living in an environment with high community and interpersonal violence continue to practice safe sex practices and some young women do not. [16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24] The resiliency model focuses on identifying individual factors, such as intra-and interpersonal strengths and resources that are important in the face of adversity.…”