Correlates of reproductive coercion among women of reproductive age in Kingston, Jamaica and Hanoi, Vietnam

TL;DR

This study examines factors linked to reproductive coercion in women from Jamaica and Vietnam, finding that lower power and certain demographic traits are associated with higher rates of coercion.

Contribution

The study identifies distinct demographic correlates of reproductive coercion in two different cultural contexts.

Findings

Reproductive coercion prevalence was 44% in Jamaica and 17% in Vietnam.

Lower education in Jamaica and younger age in Vietnam were linked to higher reproductive coercion.

Forced sex and intimate partner violence in Vietnam were associated with reproductive coercion.

Abstract

We sought to identify the correlates of reproductive coercion (RC) among women in Kingston, Jamaica and Hanoi, Vietnam. We completed a secondary analysis of two cross-sectional datasets in September 2022: 1) a study of 222 women, 18–25 years of age, attending a clinic in Kingston, Jamaica in 2018–2019 and 2) a study of 500 women, 18–45 years of age, receiving care at a hospital in Hanoi, Vietnam in 2017–2018. Shared eligibility criteria between the populations included being sexually active and not desiring pregnancy. We categorized women as experiencing RC if they indicated that their male partner had engaged in at least one of the following: pressured them to become pregnant, would stop them if they wanted to use a method to prevent pregnancy, messed with or made it difficult to use a method to prevent pregnancy, or had ever stopped them from using a method to prevent pregnancy. We used logistic regression to examine associations between demographic factors and experiencing RC. RC from a male partner was common, with a prevalence of 44% in Jamaica and 17% in Vietnam. Lower educational attainment was correlated with RC in Jamaica (AOR 3.1). Correlates in Vietnam included younger age (AOR 0.95) and a history of forced sex (AOR 2.2) or experiencing intimate partner violence (AOR 2.0). In both Jamaica and Vietnam, RC was more common among women who held characteristics associated with low power. Considering the role of a male partner is critical to promote reproductive justice.

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