Predicting Unprotected Sex and Unplanned Pregnancy among Urban African-American Adolescent Girls Using the Theory of Gender and Power

Abstract

Reproductive coercion has been hypothesized as a cause of unprotected sex and unplanned pregnancies, but research has focused on a narrow set of potential sources of reproductive coercion. We identified and evaluated eight potential sources of reproductive coercion from the Theory of Gender and Power including economic inequality between adolescent girls and their boyfriends, cohabitation, and age differences. The sample comprised sexually active African-American female adolescents, ages 15-21. At baseline (n = 715), 6 months (n = 607), and 12 months (n = 605), participants completed a 40-min interview and were tested for semen Y-chromosome with polymerase chain reaction from a self-administered vaginal swab. We predicted unprotected sex and pregnancy using multivariate regression controlling for demographics, economic factors, relationship attributes, and intervention status using a Poisson working model. Factors associated with unprotected sex included cohabitation (incidence risk ratio (IRR) 1.48, 95 % confidence interval

Relationships of Reproductive Coercion and Intimate Partner Violence to Unintended Pregnancy

“…However, they found that only participants who experienced RC were at increased risk of UIP. Rosenbaum, Zenilman, Rose, Wingood, and DiClemente (2016) found that young African American women of low socioeconomic status who cohabitated with abusive partners were significantly more likely to report RC and UIP.…”

“…First, IPV in PRAMS is limited to physical abuse only. However, physical abuse as opposed to other forms of abuse is most commonly associated with RC and UIP Rosenbaum et al, 2016). Furthermore, the assessment of RC in PRAMS is limited to birth control sabotage.…”

Reproductive Coercion and Legal Recognition: Views of Domestic Violence Support Workers and Lawyers

“…In their analysis of the data held by a statewide counselling service in Queensland, Australia, Price et al (2019) found a 21 per cent co-occurrence of RC and other forms of DV in Queensland women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. International population estimates place the prevalence of co-occurring RC and other forms of DV at between 9 and 40 per cent depending on the population studied (Black et al 2010;Clark et al 2014;McCauley et al 2014;Miller and Silverman 2010;Moore, Frohwirth and Miller 2010;Nikolajski et al 2015;Rosenbaum et al 2016;Silverman and Raj 2014). In an American study, Fleury-Steiner and Miller (2019) interviewed 172 women shortly after a DV protection order hearing.…”

Theory of Gender and Power: Intimate Partner Violence, HIV Status and Sexual Risk Behaviors in Haitian Women

“…Studies have shown that in addition to gender role and dominance, economic dependence also significantly contributes to increased risky sexual behaviors. For example, in a study conducted by Rosenbaum et al, women who were economically dependent on their dominant male partners were exposed to relatively higher levels of unprotected sex (Rosenbaum, Zenilman, Rose, Wingood, & DiClemente, 2016).…”