Domestic Violence, Marital Control, and Family Planning, Maternal, and Birth Outcomes in Timor-Leste

Abstract

Patriarchal traditions and a history of armed conflict in Timor-Leste provide a context that facilitates violence against women. More than a third of ever-married Timorese women report physical and/or sexual domestic violence (DV) perpetrated by their most recent partner. DV violates women's rights and may threaten their reproductive health. Marital control may also limit women's reproductive control and healthcare access. Our study investigated relationships between DV and marital control and subsequent family planning, maternal healthcare, and birth outcomes in Timor-Leste. Using logistic regression, we examined 2009-2010 Demographic and Health Survey data from a nationally representative sample of 2,951 women in Timor-Leste. We controlled for age, education, and wealth. We limited our analyses of pregnancy- and birth-related outcomes to those from the 6 months preceding the survey. Rural women with controlling husbands were less likely than other rural women to have an unmet need for family planning (Adj. OR 0.6; 95 % CI 0.4-0.9). Rural women who experienced DV were more likely than other rural women to have an unplanned pregnancy (Adj. OR 2.6; 95 % CI 1.4-4.8), fewer than four antenatal visits (Adj. OR 2.3; 95 % CI 1.1-4.9), or a baby born smaller than average (Adj. OR 3.1; 95 % CI 1.4-6.7). DV and marital control were not associated with the tested outcomes among urban women. Given high rates of DV internationally, our findings have important implications. Preventing DV may benefit both women and future generations. Furthermore, rural women who experience DV may benefit from targeted interventions that mediate associated risks of negative family planning, maternal healthcare, and birth outcomes.

How the Community Shapes Unmet Need for Modern Contraception: An Analysis of 44 Demographic and Health Surveys

“…; Meiksin et al. ). The significant association between men's educational attainment and greater odds of reporting of total unmet need, unmet need for spacing, and unmet need for limiting are consistent with the findings of Elfstrom and Stephenson (), who suggest that increased educational attainment for men does not necessarily result in greater autonomy for women and “may even result in greater gender inequalities” (p. e40670).…”

“…In the domain of gender norms and inequalities, increased justification of violence may negatively affect a woman's autonomy and decrease her ability to obtain desired contraception (Diop-Sidibe, Campbell, and Becker 2006;Elfstrom and Stephenson 2012;Haque et al 2012;Meiksin et al 2015). The significant association between men's educational attainment and greater odds of reporting of total unmet need, unmet need for spacing, and unmet need for limiting are consistent with the findings of Elfstrom and Stephenson (2012), who suggest that increased educational attainment for men does not necessarily result in greater autonomy for women and "may even result in greater gender inequalities" (p. e40670).…”

Domestic violence in rural currently married women: effects on utilization of reproductive and maternal health services

“…11 Meiksin R et al reported that overall women who experienced domestic violence were more likely than other rural women to have an unplanned pregnancy, fewer than four antenatal visits or a baby born smaller than average. 13 On the other hand Alio AP et al reported that women who had experienced domestic violence were significantly more likely to report that they had used contraception compared to women who hadn't experienced domestic violence. 14 Among the women's empowerment indicators decision on her own health and decision to visit friends/relatives was associated with current usage of modern contraceptive methods.…”

Effects of Intimate Partner Physical Violence on Newborns’ Birth Outcomes Among Jordanian Birthing Women

“…Newborns of victims of violence were more likely to have low birth weight (Bailey, 2010;Meiksin et al, 2015;Pavey et al, 2014;Shah & Shah, 2010), preterm birth (Bailey, 2010;Pavey et al, 2014;Shah & Shah, 2010), respiratory problems, and neonatal hospitalization (Pavey et al, 2014).…”