A study published by the journal Contraception found that when men use coercion and birth control sabotage to force their partners to become pregnant, violence and other forms of abuse are often also present. The study was announced by the Family Violence Prevention Fund in a release that stated the study is the first “quantitative examination of the relationship between intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion and unintended pregnancy.”
The study was conducted between August 2008 and March 2009 at five reproductive health clinics in Northern California. The results mirror experiences by SafeHaven staff and clients.
“Sexual coercion is a frequent theme among our clients so the study’s findings are not surprising,” said SafeHaven President and CEO Mary Lee Hafley. “Interestingly, the need for power and control that results in reproductive coercion also results in a statistically higher rate of abuse for women who are pregnant. This supports our contention that, along with their mothers, children are primary victims of domestic violence, too.”
For more details about the study, check it out at KnowMoreSayMore.org.
