Experiences of Reproductive Coercion in Queensland Women

Abstract

Reproductive coercion is any interference with a person’s reproductive autonomy that seeks to control if and when they become pregnant, and whether the pregnancy is maintained or terminated. It includes sabotage of contraceptive methods and intervention in a woman’s access to health care. Our study sought to explore the prevalence and associations with reproductive coercion within Queensland, Australia, where legislation addressing domestic violence and abortion are largely state based and undergoing a period of law reform. The study was a retrospective analysis of 3,117 Queensland women who contacted a telephone counseling and information service regarding an unplanned pregnancy. All data were collected by experienced counselors regarding circumstances within a current pregnancy between January 2015 and July 2017. Overall, experience of current domestic violence was significantly more likely to co-occur with reproductive coercion (21.1%) compared with reproductive coercion identified in the absence of other domestic violence (3.1%). Furthermore, significantly more mental health issues were reported by 36.6% of women affected by reproductive coercion, compared with 14.1% of women with no reproductive coercion present. Disclosure for reproductive coercion, violence, and mental health issues was much higher among women who made a repeat contact to the counselors about their pregnancy (17.8%) compared with those who disclosed at first contact (5.9%). These findings demonstrate the importance for health services to ensure that appropriate screening (and re-screening) for reproductive coercion is completed as a distinct part of screening for violence during a health care relationship.

Barriers to Responding to Reproductive Coercion and Abuse in Australian Primary Care

“…Despite increased recognition in research and practice, 3,20,31 the results show that there is a lot more work needs to be done to address the barriers to responding to RCA in Australian primary care. Although clinicians are willing and able to be trained to identify and respond to reproductive coercion and abuse, in the current system there would be little bene t if there is nowhere to refer women.…”

Reproductive Coercion and Legal Recognition: Views of Domestic Violence Support Workers and Lawyers

“…(FG 2) Research has suggested a relationship between the disclosure of RC and the development of trust over time. For example, in their study of data held by a pregnancy counselling service (Children by Choice), Price et al (2019) found that certain disclosures were more likely to be made with repeated contact with the service. Research has also shown that shame and self-blame are some of the reasons why sexual violence is less likely than other forms of DV to be reported (at all) or to be reported later in the recovery journey (Heenan 2004;Tarzia 2020;Wall 2012).…”

“…For example, a woman may be threatened with physical harm if she does not become pregnant, continue a pregnancy, or terminate a pregnancy, or she may be psychologically intimidated to prevent her from terminating a pregnancy. Behaviours associated with RC include sabotaging birth control such as throwing away contraceptive pills, forced unprotected sex, intentional misuse of condoms or financially preventing the woman from obtaining forms of contraception (Price et al 2019). RC is often associated with a broader pattern of domestic violence (DV) and coercive control (Marie Stopes Australia 2018: 7), but the role of RC in the context of DV is understudied (Fleury-Steiner and Miller 2019).…”

“…RC is often associated with a broader pattern of domestic violence (DV) and coercive control (Marie Stopes Australia 2018: 7), but the role of RC in the context of DV is understudied (Fleury-Steiner and Miller 2019). Research drawing on Australian counselling agency data suggests that the experience of RC is common in relationships where there is DV (Price et al 2019). While some research has considered whether current legal definitions of DV recognise RC (Douglas and Kerr 2018), no research has explored how DV support and legal services (which provide information and advice to victims/survivors of DV as part of their role) understand and respond to RC when it is raised.…”

“…Stark also recognised that coercive control is gendered and relies on vulnerability arising from sexual inequality within the broader society (2007: 229;Stark and Hester 2019: 88). RC is identified as a significant problem that often co-occurs with other forms of DV and may be part of coercive control (Price et al 2019).…”