Physical and sexual violence and subsequent contraception use among reproductive aged women

Abstract

Background Population-based data were used to examine the association between reproductive aged women's physical and sexual violence experiences in the previous 12 months and subsequent contraception use. Study Design This study used a representative sample of adults (2002 North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System). Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to model the associations of interest. Results Approximately 1 in 20 North Carolina reproductive aged women experienced physical and/or sexual violence in the previous 12 months, with physical violence as the most common. Compared to women who experienced no violence in the previous 12 months, experiences with physical violence by itself increased subsequent contraception use, while experience with sexual violence by itself decreased subsequent contraception use. Women with both experiences in the previous 12 months were less likely to be subsequently using contraception (OR=0.1; 95% CI=0.1–0.8). Conclusions Findings from this study provide further evidence that different experiences with violence may dictate women's subsequent contraception use.