Reproductive Coercion

Approximately 5% of US women have experienced reproductive coercion – an intimate partner trying to get them pregnant when they did not want to be (Black et al., 2011). Reported prevalence is higher (14-74%) in smaller community samples of women receiving services (Miller et al., 2010; Moore, Frohwirth, & Miller, 2010; Raphael, 2005). Associations with physical/sexual violence have been mixed (Messing & Thaller, 2012; Miller et al., 2010), though reproductive coercion was related to unintended pregnancy when physical violence was present (Miller et al., 2010). Reproductive coercion has also been associated with compromised sexual health decision-making (fear of refusing sex or asking a partner to use a condom; Messing & Thaller, 2012). There is need to investigate other factors associated with reproductive coercion and pregnancy avoidance among women experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV) to inform development of screening tools and targeted interventions....