According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) every 10 minutes a woman or girl dies at the hands of an intimate partner or close relative. That’s six every hour; more than 140 every day, worldwide.
Intimate partner violence (IPV) and reproductive coercion (RC) have severe mental and physical health effects, yet we know little about their prevalence in Australia. Reproductive coercion includes various types of abuse, pressure or manipulation to dictate a partner’s reproductive choices. It can include both “pregnancy-promoting” behaviours (like threats of violence towards a partner trying to access abortion or contraception services, sabotaging contraception, or emotional abuse) and “pregnancy-preventing” behaviours. To better understand these behaviours, researchers conducted a study on IPV and RC in women attending a sexual health clinic in Perth.
The study used data from screening questionnaires and medical records of women (aged 16 and over) who attended a sexual health clinic in Perth between March 2019 and March 2020. Information such as age, birth country, socioeconomic status and partner gender was collected, along with responses to questions on IPV and RC. Statistical analysis was used to examine links between these demographic factors and reported IPV and RC cases.
More than 2600 women participated in the study. In total, 454 participants (17.3 per cent) reported experiencing IPV or RC, with 427 (16.3 per cent) experiencing IPV and 139 (5.3 per cent) experiencing RC. Higher rates of IPV were noted among women born in Australia, those with female partners, and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander women. The odds of current IPV were also higher in women aged 35–54 and those in middle socioeconomic areas. These findings suggest a complex relationship between demographics and IPV/RC prevalence, emphasising the need for individualised screening rather than reliance on demographic risk factors alone.
This study highlights a significant overlap between IPV and RC, underscoring the importance of healthcare professionals actively inquiring about these issues. The findings also challenge traditional assumptions about IPV risk, suggesting that abuse is prevalent across diverse demographic groups. Effective screening and support programs in clinics can play a vital role in identifying and assisting those affected.
Further information
Intimate partner violence and reproductive coercion – cross‐sectional study of women attending a Perth sexual health clinic, 2019–20: Medical Journal of Australia
