Clinics' intervention can ward off 'reproductive coercion'
Family-planning clinics can play a huge role in helping women whose intimate partners bully them into becoming pregnant, new research finds.
A pilot study published online Wednesday in the journal "Contraception" showed that among women ages 16 to 29 who'd recently experienced intimate-partner violence, those who went to clinics that asked whether they were being pressured to become pregnant and that offered information about tamper-proof birth control such as IUDs were 71 percent less likely to unwillingly become pregnant in the ensuing six months than women whose clinics didn't offer such counseling. Moreover, they were more likely than women who weren't screened for reproductive coercion to break off their unhealthy relationships.
Reproductive coercion is a form of abuse in which a man threatens to harm a woman if she uses birth control or has an abortion, or sabotages birth-control efforts so as to increase her odds of becoming pregnant. Here's more information.
By
Jennifer LaRue Huget
|
September 1, 2010; 12:36 PM ET
Categories:
Pregnancy
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Women's Health
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Posted by: alance | September 1, 2010 3:26 PM | Report abuse
What about the many women who are pressured into having abortions? Where are their advocates?
Posted by: GrainofSalt1 | September 1, 2010 3:38 PM | Report abuse
This issue is about supporting women who are in abusive relationships and raising awareness about pregnancy prevention.
This is good news, and not a partisan issue at all.
Posted by: bosslady1 | September 1, 2010 7:34 PM | Report abuse
"Reproductive Coercion"? Seriously? Read the story about 17 yo pregnant Anyssia Escamilla who was murdered by her boyfriend because she refused an abortion. Her body was found in a landfill after 70 days of searching.
http://www.pe.com/localnews/sbcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_nanyssia17.5e4e51b2.html
You may also wish to check out the story of Mary Beth Bonacci, whose grandmother was unknowingly sterilized in a State Hospital after the delivery of her first child because politicians did not want the local Southern Italian immigrants to overpopulate.
Posted by: lee3333 | September 3, 2010 5:42 PM | Report abuse
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Our society needs to replace itself - this is a demographic fact to insure our future survival.
Are family planning clinics trying to lower American fertility and encourage sterilization. Are they trying to destroy the American family? Every woman has the right to decide her own fertility options, however this pilot study sounds very coercive and pro steriliztion anti-family.