Citation

Fantasia HC, Sutherland MA, Fontenot HB, Lee-St John TJ. Contraception 2012; 86(5): 530-535.

Affiliation

University of Massachusetts Lowell, Department of Nursing, School of Health and Environment, Lowell, MA 01854, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.contraception.2012.03.005

PMID

22520646

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Partner violence may interfere with a woman's ability to maintain continuous contraception and therefore contribute to increased risk of pregnancy among childbearing women. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of medical records (N=2000) was conducted from four family planning clinics in the northeast United States. Eligibility criteria for inclusion were as follows: (1) female, (2) reproductive age (menarche through menopause), (3) seeking reproductive services and (4) clinic visit for annual gynecologic exam between 2006 and 2011. RESULTS: Partner violence was documented in 28.5% (n=569) of medical records. Chronicity of violence influenced contraceptive patterns and pregnancy risk. Women reporting past year partner violence only [odds ratio (OR)=10.2] and violence during the last 5 years (OR=10.6) had the highest odds of not using a current method of contraception. Women reporting recent exposure to violence were most likely to change birth control methods and use emergency contraception (OR=6.5). Women experiencing any history of violence reported more frequent contraceptive method changes during the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: A history of partner violence was common among women utilizing family planning services. The chronicity of violence appeared to play a significant role in contraceptive method changes, types of methods used and pregnancy risk. These results may be one explanation for increased pregnancies among women who experience partner violence.

Language: en