Intimate Partner Violence and Pregnancy Termination in Armenia: Evidence from Nationally-Representative Survey Data

Abstract

Intimate partner violence has been associated with numerous consequences for women, including pregnancy termination. This study examined the association between predictive capacity of intimate partner violence and pregnancy termination among women in Armenia. The study analyzed the 2015–16 Armenia Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS) data on women aged 15–49 (Mean: 31.49; Standard Deviation, SD: 9.51). Marital control exercised by husbands, ever experienced physical violence, sexual violence, and emotional violence by husbands were the four indicators of intimate partner violence used in this study. To assess the association between intimate partner violence and pregnancy termination, a binary logistic regression model was fitted. After controlling for confounders, we found that women whose husbands exercised marital control were 26% more likely to experience pregnancy termination, compared to women whose husbands did not exercise marital control (adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 1.26, 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.03–1.53). Women who ever experienced sexual violence were about 10 times likely to experience pregnancy termination than women who did not experience sexual violence (aOR: 9.76, 95% CI: 1.91–49.96). Both ever experienced physical violence and emotional violence did not have any significant associations with pregnancy termination. Forms of intimate partner violence are associated with pregnancy termination. The findings of this study provide evidence for government and policymakers to formulate, modify, and implement policies and program that target both men and women regarding the prevailing intimate partner violence and its consequences. Strengthening the policy implementation will ensure that women are empowered to make decisions about their reproductive health. Making husbands and their family members aware of the basics and consequences of intimate partner violence and focusing on child cognitive development which can be hampered due to the prevalence violence in families are recommended.

Intimate Partner Violence and Pregnancy Termination among Tajikistan Women: Evidence from Nationally Representative Data

“…However, there are a few countries with higher levels of both emotional and physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, such as Cameroon (32.1% and 31.4%), Tanzania (28.1% and 29.5%), Afghanistan (34.4% and 46%), and Colombia (30% and 33.3%) [42]. This study states that women of the age group over 35 are more likely to undergo the termination of a pregnancy; similar findings were reported in Armenia (61.41%) [43] and Nigeria (47%) [44], whereas younger women are more likely to pregnant termination in New Zealand [45]. However, in the United Kingdom, women over 20 years of age are more likely to request a termination of pregnancy than women younger than 20 years of age [46].…”

Spatial distribution and predictors of intimate partner violence among women in Nigeria

“…Therefore, a woman who had undergone at least one of the acts was regarded as ever experienced physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. From the questions asked on the experience of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, IPV was created with respondents experiencing at least one of these violent acts regarded as ever had IPV and otherwise [ 9 , 29 ].…”

Spatial distribution and predictors of lifetime experience of intimate partner violence among women in South Africa

“…A respondent who had experienced at least one of the violent acts was considered as ever experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence. From the questions asked on the experience of physical, emotional, and sexual violence, IPV was generated, with respondents experiencing at least one of these violent acts regarded as ever had IPV and otherwise [26][27][28].…”

“…Both community literacy level and community socio-economic status were derived from clusters using principal component analysis. All these variables were considered based on their theoretical and practical relevance to IPV and their availability in the 2016 SADHS dataset [26][27][28][29].…”