Reproductive Coercion and Women's Health

Abstract

Given the epidemic proportion of those affected, the impact of gender-based violence looms large in the study of women's health. One increasingly recognized facet of such violence is reproductive coercion, defined as behavior that interferes with autonomous decision-making in areas of reproductive health. Although the body of literature illustrating the pathology of reproductive coercion is limited, growing data on harms to reproductive choice, health outcomes, and future pregnancies are a sobering appeal for greater publicity and information. This review explores existing knowledge regarding reproductive coercion, highlights areas of future study, and underscores how women's health care providers can better serve this population.

Relationships of Reproductive Coercion and Intimate Partner Violence to Unintended Pregnancy

“…Similar to IPV, RC is a behavior that is used as a method to maintain power and control over another individual. Although all women affected by IPV may not experience RC, RC should be recognized as violence because it undermines an individual's ability to make autonomous decisions (ACOG, 2013;Fay & Yee, 2018).…”

Using Digital Technology for Sexual and Reproductive Health: Are Programs Adequately Considering Risk?

“…Failure to keep SRH service use confidential or disclosure of HIV/STI status can result in conflict with or loss of support of parents, stigma, blame, discrimination, or new or escalating verbal or physical violence 15 – 17 . Women in many settings, in particular those living in more patriarchal, socially conservative contexts, are also often victims of reproductive coercion, through which their autonomy over reproductive choice is greatly impaired 18 – 19 . Women’s requests to use contraception can result in suspicions of infidelity, and many women fear violence if they request to control their own fertility 20 .…”

A conceptual re-evaluation of reproductive coercion: centring intent, fear and control

“…It is not our intention here to review the growing body of literature on RCA. This has been covered by several comprehensive systematic reviews [ 2 , 7 , 12 , 13 ] which address the prevalence and types of reproductive coercion and its associations with IPV, unintended pregnancy, contraceptive non-adherence, and poor sexual and reproductive health. In brief, the evidence suggests that: RCA is common and comprises a spectrum of behaviours such as pressure, manipulation, emotional blackmail, trickery, threats, and the use of physical violence [ 2 , 7 ]; The lifetime prevalence of RCA ranges between 8 and 30% depending on the sample and setting [ 7 ].…”