Mental Health Impacts of Reproductive Coercion Among Women in Côte D'Ivoire

Overview

Journal Int J Gynaecol Obstet

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2014 Jun 23

PMID 24952817

Citations 35

Authors

Heather L McCauley

Kathryn L Falb

Tara Streich-Tilles

Denise Kpebo

Jhumka Gupta

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the independent associations of partner-perpetrated reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence (IPV), in-law reproductive coercion, and in-law abuse with recent probable post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to test their relationship with PTSD symptoms when controlling for the other types of abuse among partnered women in rural Côte d'Ivoire.

Methods: Cross-sectional analyses were conducted using logistic generalized estimating equations, which accounted for village-level clustering. Data were drawn from baseline data from a randomized controlled trial among 24 villages in rural Côte d'Ivoire (n=953 partnered women). Three adjusted models were used to test associations of reproductive coercion and abuse with probable PTSD.

Results: Partner-perpetrated reproductive coercion was experienced by 176 (18.5%) women. In model 3, which accounted for the co-occurrence of abuses, partner-perpetrated reproductive coercion (odds ratio [OR] 2.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-3.9) and partner-perpetrated IPV (OR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.7) were the most significant predictors of past-week probable PTSD (P<0.05).

Conclusion: Reproductive coercion may be a significant contributor to poor mental health. The mental health impacts of reproductive coercion and IPV should be considered within psychosocial programming for rural Ivorian communities to address the full range of traumatic experiences that may have been experienced by women.

Citing Articles

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