Reproductive Coercion, Intimate Partner Violence, and Unintended Pregnancy Among Latina Women

Abstract

Reproductive coercion (RC) describes a range of behaviors that restrict reproductive autonomy including pregnancy coercion, birth control sabotage, and controlling the outcome of a pregnancy. RC is associated with pregnancies that are mistimed and unwanted (i.e., unintended). Past research demonstrates that Latina women have higher risk for RC and for unintended pregnancy. This cross-sectional descriptive study with Latina women ( n = 482) examined prevalence and risk factors for RC, evaluated the association of RC and unintended pregnancy among women with a past-year pregnancy, and explored use of safety and harm reduction strategies. A tablet survey was administered to women attending a community health center, between the ages of 15 and 45, who self-identified as Latina and who had a dating or sexual partner in the past year. Approximately one in six (16.8%) experienced past-year RC and risk factors included younger age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [0.91, 1.00], p = .038) and concurrent intimate partner violence (IPV; AOR = 4.47, 95% CI = [2.06, 9.70], p < .001). IPV questions were specific to the partner involved with RC behaviors. For the 185 participants who reported a past-year pregnancy, RC was associated with lower pregnancy planning scores (β = –.27, 95% CI = [–0.41, –0.13], p < .001). The combination of experiencing RC and IPV appeared particularly potent in lowering pregnancy planning scores (β = –.15, 95% CI = [–0.29, 0.00], p = .052). Approximately 10.6% of participants engaged in harm reduction strategies, most commonly ending an unhealthy or abusive relationship (6.1%) and using less detectable methods of contraception so that partners would not find out (3.4%). The study articulates the risk of RC and its intersection with IPV and unintended pregnancy for Latina women. Providers working with racially and ethnically marginalized women have an important role in promoting safety and harm reduction strategies that include offering less detectable methods of contraception and support in leaving unhealthy and abusive relationships.

Gendered power dynamics and threats to sexual and reproductive autonomy among adolescent girls and young adult women: A cross-sectional survey in three urban settings

“…While reproductive coercion has been previously documented in Nairobi among samples including AGYW [ 38 ]; findings provide new and valuable evidence of reproductive coercion as well as the specific behavior of stealthing among AGYW specifically in across urban sub-Saharan African settings. Consistent with evidence from other settings [ 39 ], IPV was associated with reproductive coercion in both Nairobi and Abidjan. While the timing of assessments (current IPV, lifetime reproductive coercion) does not allow conclusions about current risk, these data point to a concerning convergence of threats to both physical and reproductive safety and autonomy in the lives of AGYW.…”

Interpersonal Violence and Contraceptive Method Use by Women Sex Workers

“…Prior experiences of interpersonal violence by any partner perpetrator might make negotiating for partner-controlled contraceptive use feel dangerous for women. This point is particularly important to consider among street-based sex workers, because of the prevalence of violence among this population when compared to sex workers working in other environments (Deering et al, As in previous research among other marginalized populations, such as Latina women, sex workers who experienced some types of interpersonal violence were more likely to use a woman-controlled contraceptive method (Grace et al, 2020;Salazar, Valladares, & Hogberg, 2012). The use of womancontrolled contraception might be an attempt to prevent pregnancy in relationships with power imbalances that make overt use of contraception (such as with male condoms) unsafe (Alexander, Coleman, Deatrick, & Jemmott, 2012;Fanslow, Whitehead, Silva, & Robinson, 2008).…”

“…The use of womancontrolled contraception might be an attempt to prevent pregnancy in relationships with power imbalances that make overt use of contraception (such as with male condoms) unsafe (Alexander, Coleman, Deatrick, & Jemmott, 2012;Fanslow, Whitehead, Silva, & Robinson, 2008). For these women, the use of woman-controlled contraception might be an example of an empowering, harm reduction strategy to avoid unintended pregnancy when violence-related power imbalances with clients or intimate partners subvert partner-controlled contraception (Alexander et al, 2012;Grace et al, 2020;Thaller & Cimino, 2017). A surprising finding in this study is that the relationship with contraceptive use by women differed by the type of perpetrator of interpersonal violence.…”

Reproductive coercion and abuse against women from minority ethnic backgrounds: views of service providers in Australia

“…Findings suggest that reproductive coercion and abuse for these women may occur at the intersection between patriarchal community norms specifically related to sex and reproduction, men's controlling and violent behaviours, and structural inequalities within Australian society. The paper contributes to a limited knowledge base around the dynamics and context of reproductive coercion and abuse and represents the first qualitative investigation into how it manifests for this sub-group of women in Australia (Grace et al 2020;Nikolajski et al 2015). Given that Australia is a multicultural society (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2020, 2016), it is critical that the experiences of migrant minority ethnic women be considered alongside those of their Australian-born peers in order to ensure that interventions and responses are appropriate to their needs.…”