Intersection of reproductive coercion and intimate partner violence: cross-sectional influences on women’s contraceptive use in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Kenya

Abstract

ObjectivesAmong nationally representative cross-sections of women in need of contraception from Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and Kenya, we aimed to: (1) examine the intersection of past-year physical/sexual intimate partner violence (IPV), emotional IPV and reproductive coercion (RC) and (2) assess the impact of physical/sexual IPV, emotional IPV and RC on women’s contraceptive use outcomes, including current contraceptive use, method type and covert use.DesignThe present analysis uses cross-sectional female data collected in Burkina Faso (December 2020–March 2021), Côte d'Ivoire (October–November 2021) and Kenya (November–December 2020).SettingsBurkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire and KenyaParticipantsAnalytical samples were restricted to partnered women with contraceptive need who completed a violence module (Burkina Faso n=1863; Côte d'Ivoire n=1105; Kenya n=3390).Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe exposures of interest—past-year emotional IPV, physical/sexual IPV and RC—were assessed using abridged versions of the Revised Conflict and Tactics Scale-2 and Reproductive Coercion Scale, respectively. Outcomes of interest included current contraceptive use, contraceptive method type (female controlled vs male compliant), and covert contraceptive use, and used standard assessments.ResultsAcross sites, 6.4% (Côte d'Ivoire) to 7.8% (Kenya) of women in need of contraception experienced RC; approximately one-third to one-half of women experiencing RC reported no other violence forms (31.7% in Burkina Faso to 45.8% in Côte d'Ivoire), whereas physical/sexual IPV largely occurred with emotional IPV. In multivariable models, RC was consistently associated with covert use (Burkina Faso: aOR 2.84 (95% CI 1.21 to 6.64); Côte d'Ivoire: aOR 4.45 (95% CI 1.76 to 11.25); Kenya: aOR 5.77 (95% CI 3.51 to 9.46)). Some IPV in some settings was also associated with covert use (emotional IPV, Burkina Faso: aOR 2.99 (95% CI 1.56 to 5.74); physical/sexual, Kenya: aOR 2.35 (95% CI 1.33 to 4.17)).ConclusionsAcross settings, covert use is a critical strategy for women experiencing RC. Country policies must recognise RC as a unique form of violence with profound implications for women’s reproductive health.