Reproductive Coercion and Partner Violence Among College Women

Abstract

Objective To examine reproductive coercion and partner violence among college women, a group that has not been previously examined. Design Cross‐sectional, electronic survey. Setting A large public university in the Northeast United States. Sample Inclusion criteria included the following: college women age 18 to 25, enrolled full‐ or part‐time, currently or previously sexually active, and English speaking. Data from 972 women were analyzed. Methods After Institutional Review Board approval, an e‐mail invitation was sent to female students. A web link to the informed consent and inclusion criteria was provided. Students who met study criteria could proceed to the survey. Survey questions were guided by concepts from the theory of planned behavior and included the Abuse Assessment Screen, the Reproductive Coercion Scale, and sexual history questions adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Completion of the survey implied consent. Results Almost 8% of participants (n = 76) reported reproductive coercion, including pregnancy coercion, birth control sabotage, or both. Women reported more pregnancy coercion (6.8%) than birth control sabotage (3.9%). Being told not to use any birth control was the most commonly reported act (6.8%, n = 62). Of women reporting reproductive coercion (n = 76), 57% also screened positive for relationship violence (95% confidence interval [CI] [2.74, 7.29]). Women who experienced reproductive coercion were also more likely to report a history of pregnancy (p < .001), history of abortion (p < .001), and unintended pregnancy (p < .001). Conclusion/Implications for Nursing Practice Pregnancy coercion and birth control sabotage occur among college women often in the context of intimate partner violence. Many women seek health care during the college years, and there are multiple opportunities for interactions between nurses and college women. In addition to screening and counseling for intimate partner violence, college health providers need to assess for reproductive coercion and tailor contraceptive counseling discussions accordingly. Nurses who provide women's health care should assess status of relationships, occurrence of violence, coercion, and ability to negotiate safer sex. These conversations should be framed within health promotion messages and discussions about safety for women during routine and episodic visits. This report was published in its entirety: Sutherland, M., Fantasia, H. C., & Fontenot, H. (2015). Reproductive coercion and partner violence among college women. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, & Neonatal Nursing, 44(2), 218–227. To examine reproductive coercion and partner violence among college women, a group that has not been previously examined. Cross‐sectional, electronic survey. A large public university in the Northeast United States. Inclusion criteria included the following: college women age 18 to 25, enrolled full‐ or part‐time, currently or previously sexually active, and English speaking. Data from 972 women were analyzed. After Institutional Review Board approval, an e‐mail invitation was sent to female students. A web link to the informed consent and inclusion criteria was provided. Students who met study criteria could proceed to the survey. Survey questions were guided by concepts from the theory of planned behavior and included the Abuse Assessment Screen, the Reproductive Coercion Scale, and sexual history questions adapted from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Completion of the survey implied consent. Almost 8% of participants (n = 76) reported reproductive coercion, including pregnancy coercion, birth control sabotage, or both. Women reported more pregnancy coercion (6.8%) than birth control sabotage (3.9%). Being told not to use any birth control was the most commonly reported act (6.8%, n = 62). Of women reporting reproductive coercion (n = 76), 57% also screened positive for relationship violence (95% confidence interval [CI] [2.74, 7.29]). Women who experienced reproductive coercion were also more likely to report a history of pregnancy (p < .001), history of abortion (p < .001), and unintended pregnancy (p < .001). Pregnancy coercion and birth control sabotage occur among college women often in the context of intimate partner violence. Many women seek health care during the college years, and there are multiple opportunities for interactions between nurses and college women. In addition to screening and counseling for intimate partner violence, college health providers need to assess for reproductive coercion and tailor contraceptive counseling discussions accordingly. Nurses who provide women's health care should assess status of relationships, occurrence of violence, coercion, and ability to negotiate safer sex. These conversations should be framed within health promotion messages and discussions about safety for women during routine and episodic visits.