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Intimate partner violence, abortion, and unintended pregnancy: Results from the WHO Multi‐country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence
Author(s) -
Pallitto Christina C.,
GarcíaMoreno Claudia,
Jansen Henrica A.F.M.,
Heise Lori,
Ellsberg Mary,
Watts Charlotte
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.07.003
Subject(s) - unintended pregnancy , abortion , medicine , domestic violence , pregnancy , population , reproductive health , odds ratio , demography , unsafe abortion , poison control , obstetrics , environmental health , family planning , injury prevention , pathology , biology , sociology , research methodology , genetics
Objective To explore how intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with unintended pregnancy and abortion in primarily low‐ and middle‐income countries. Methods Population data are presented from 17 518 ever‐partnered women participating in the WHO Multi‐country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence in 15 sites in 10 countries. Using multiple logistic regression analyses, associations between physical and/or sexual partner violence and abortion and unintended pregnancy were explored. Results Women with a history of IPV had significantly higher odds of unintended pregnancy in 8 of 14 sites and of abortion in 12 of 15 sites. Pooled estimates showed increased odds of unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.53–1.86) and abortion (adjusted OR 2.68; 95% CI, 2.34–3.06), after adjusting for confounding factors. Reducing IPV by 50% could potentially reduce unintended pregnancy by 2%–18% and abortion by 4.5%–40%, according to population‐attributable risk estimates. Conclusion IPV is a consistent and strong risk factor for unintended pregnancy and abortion across a variety of settings. Unintended pregnancy terminated through unsafe abortion can result in death or serious complications. Therefore, reducing IPV can significantly reduce risks to maternal and reproductive health.