A conceptual re-evaluation of reproductive coercion: centring intent, fear and control

Tarzia, Laura; Hegarty, Kelsey

doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01143-6

Cited by 51 publications

(80 citation statements)

References 39 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…forced sterilisation of women by the state). As posited in a conceptual re-evaluation of the term reproductive coercion and abuse [ 9 ], when exploring the experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse, only behaviours where there is a perceived explicit intent of either impregnating a woman, preventing her from becoming pregnant or ending a pregnancy will be considered.…”

Section: | Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Prevalence rates of reproductive coercion and abuse have ranged from 8.6% of all women in The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey in the United States of America (USA) to as high as 37.8% among young, self-identified Black or African American women in Baltimore, Maryland [ 8 ]. However, a lack of consistent measurement and conceptual clarity around reproductive coercion and abuse mean that true prevalence rates are inconclusive [ 9 ]. A systematic review by Grace and Anderson [ 7 ] found that in the USA, reproductive coercion and abuse disproportionately affects women experiencing other forms of intimate partner violence, women of low socioeconomic status and women who are Latina, African American, or multiracial.…”

Section: | Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Women’s perceptions and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse: a qualitative evidence synthesis

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Reproductive coercion and abuse is a major public health issue, with significant effects on the health and well-being of women. Reproductive coercion and abuse includes any form of behaviour that intentionally controls another person’s reproductive choices. The aim of this qualitative evidence synthesis is to explore women’s experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse globally, to broaden understanding of the different ways reproductive coercion and abuse is perpetrated, perceived and experienced across settings and socio-cultural contexts. Method We searched Medline, CINAHL and Embase for eligible studies from inception to 25th February 2021. Primary studies with a qualitative study design that focused on the experiences and perceptions of women who have encountered reproductive coercion and abuse were eligible for inclusion. Titles and abstracts, and full texts were screened by independent reviewers. We extracted data from included studies using a form designed for this synthesis and assessed methodological limitations using CASP. We used Thomas and Harden’s thematic analysis approach to analyse and synthesise the evidence, and the GRADE-CERQual approach to assess confidence in review findings. Results We included 33 studies from twelve countries in South Asia, the Asia Pacific, North America, South America, Africa and Europe. Most studies used in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to discuss women’s experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse. Reproductive coercion and abuse manifested in a range of behaviours including control of pregnancy outcome, pregnancy pressure or contraceptive sabotage. There were a range of reasons cited for reproductive coercion and abuse, including control of women, rigid gender roles, social inequalities and family pressure. Women’s different responses to reproductive coercion and abuse included using covert contraception and feelings of distress, anger and trauma. Across contexts, perpetration and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse were influenced by different factors including son preferences and social exclusion. Conclusions We reflect on the importance of socio-cultural factors in understanding the phenomenon of reproductive coercion and abuse and how it affects women, as well as how the mechanisms of power and control at both individual and societal levels work to perpetuate the incidence of reproductive coercion and abuse against women.

show abstract

Section: | Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: | Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Women’s perceptions and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse: a qualitative evidence synthesis

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is an often hidden yet increasingly recognised form of interpersonal violence. It involves a range of behaviours intended to interfere with or control an individual’s ability to make autonomous reproductive decisions, most notably to become pregnant or to terminate a pregnancy [ 1 – 3 ]. RCA is often perpetrated by past or current intimate partners, though family members can also be abusers or instigators [ 2 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive coercion and abuse among pregnancy counselling clients in Australia: trends and directions

Sheeran

Vallury²,

Sharman

et al. 2022

Reprod Health

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background Reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) interferes with a person’s reproductive autonomy and can be classified into behaviours that are pregnancy promoting or pregnancy preventing (including coerced abortion). However, prevalence data are lacking, and little is known about whether particular forms of RCA are more or less common. The aims of our study were to explore how frequently people seeking pregnancy counselling reported RCA, the proportions reporting the different forms of RCA, and whether there were different trends based on a range of demographic factors. Methods Data were collected from 5107 clients seeking counselling support for their pregnancy between January 2018 and December 2020 from two leading providers of pregnancy counselling and sexual and reproductive health services in Australia, Marie Stopes Australia and Children by Choice. Counsellors identified and recorded the presence of RCA and whether the behaviour was pregnancy promoting and/or pregnancy preventing. Demographic factors included age, and whether the person identified as being from a migrant or refugee community or as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. Results RCA was identified in 15.4% of clients, with similar proportions disclosing RCA towards pregnancy (6%) and towards pregnancy prevention or abortion (7.5%), and 1.9% experiencing RCA towards pregnancy and abortion concurrently. There were no differences based on age or whether the person identified as being from a migrant or refugee background, though people who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander experienced RCA that was significantly more likely to be pregnancy promoting. Conclusions RCA is commonly disclosed by people seeking support in a pregnancy counselling context, and coercion and abuse is equally likely to be towards pregnancy promotion or pregnancy prevention/abortion. Given the prevalence and negative impacts of RCA, regardless of age and background, we recommend sensitive and culturally respectful enquiry around experiences of RCA be embedded in healthcare, health education, and health research.

show abstract

“…Robust prevalence data is lacking but international research suggests rates of 5 -30% (Grace & Anderson, 2018;Rowlands & Walker, 2019). In recognition of the context of fear and control that typically accompanies reproductive coercion, as well as the overt physical and sexual tactics (in addition to coercive behaviours) that are often used, Tarzia and Hegarty (2021) argue that reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA) is a more appropriate term.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communicating Reproductive Coercion in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence: Perspectives of Service Providers Supporting Migrant and Refugee Women

2022

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The current study explored the language barriers to help-seeking in the context of reproductive coercion and abuse (RCA), domestic and family violence (DFV), and sexual violence (SV), drawing on observations by key informants supporting women from migrant and refugee communities. A lack of shared language has been identified as a key barrier to help seeking for migrant and refugee women experiencing DFV more broadly, though how language intersects with help seeking in the context of RCA is yet to be investigated. We conducted 6 focus groups with 38 lawyers, counsellors, and social workers supporting women experiencing DFV in Brisbane and Melbourne, Australia. Our findings address two main areas. First, consistent with past research in DFV, our participants identified language as a barrier for women when communicating about sexual and reproductive issues in the context of health and police encounters. More specifically, our findings suggest that the inability of health professionals and police to communicate with women who have low or no English proficiency not only negatively impacted victims/survivors’ ability to access support, but also facilitated the perpetration of RCA. We conclude that language can be a mechanism through which coercive control is enacted by perpetrators of RCA and health and policing systems may not be equipped to recognise and address this issue. We also suggest that greater conceptual clarity of RCA is needed within the DFV sector in order to tailor responses.

show abstract

A conceptual re-evaluation of reproductive coercion: centring intent, fear and control

Cited by 51 publications

References 39 publications

Women’s perceptions and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Women’s perceptions and experiences of reproductive coercion and abuse: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Reproductive coercion and abuse among pregnancy counselling clients in Australia: trends and directions

Communicating Reproductive Coercion in the Context of Domestic and Family Violence: Perspectives of Service Providers Supporting Migrant and Refugee Women

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About