Longitudinal impact of past-year reproductive coercion on contraceptive use dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from eight population-based cohorts

dc.contributor.authorOmoluabi, Elizabeth
dc.contributor.authorWood, Shannon N
dc.contributor.authorThomas, Haley L
dc.date.accessioned2025-08-01T14:00:49Z
dc.date.available2025-08-01T14:00:49Z
dc.date.issued2024
dc.description.abstractBackground: Reproductive coercion (RC) is a type of abuse where a partner intentionally attempts to interfere with fertility through deception or violence, often by manipulating one's contraceptive use or reproductive decision-making. Cross-sectional studies on the magnitude of RC across sub-Saharan Africa have noted associations with contraceptive use. No studies have longitudinally examined RC experiences as related to future contraceptive dynamics, including discontinuation or forgoing use altogether. Methods: Two rounds of longitudinal population-based cohorts across eight sites in sub-Saharan Africa, from November 2020 to January 2023, were used to prospectively examine past-year RC's impact on future contraceptive dynamics (discontinuation and switching vs. continuation for contraceptive users at baseline; adoption vs. continued non-use for contraceptive non-users at baseline) using bivariate and multivariable multinomial and logistic regression. Findings: Minimal differences in women's past-year RC experiences were observed over a two-year period. In many settings, RC prevalence decreased. Only in Uganda did past-year RC increase between rounds (15.8% to 17.8%). RC's impact on contraceptive dynamics over one year differed by setting. In Burkina Faso, women with past-year RC had a three-fold increased risk of discontinuing contraception, as compared to continuing (RRR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.28–5.42; p<0.01). In Uganda, past-year RC was marginally associated with reduced odds of contraceptive adoption, compared to continued non-use (p<0.1). Interpretation: In this first longitudinal study of RC, trajectories varied across settings, as did RC's impact on contraception, affirming the importance of context. Future work should clarify RC trajectories and drivers thereof. Providers must be aware of RC leading to potential discontinuation. Contraceptive provision must be flexible and reflect women's life circumstances, including partner dynamics. Funding: This work was supported, in whole, by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation [ INV-046501 and INV-009639]. Under the grant conditions of the Foundation, a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License has already been assigned to the Author Accepted Manuscript version that might arise from this submission.
dc.identifier.citationWood, S.N., Thomas, H.L., Guiella, G., Mosso, R., Gichangi, P., Kibira, S.P., Makumbi, F., Akilimali, P.Z., OlaOlorun, F.M., Omoluabi, E. and Decker, M.R., 2025. Longitudinal impact of past-year reproductive coercion on contraceptive use dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from eight population-based cohorts. EClinicalMedicine, 80.
dc.identifier.issn10.1016/j.eclinm.2024.103056
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10566/20653
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherElsevier Ltd
dc.subjectContraception
dc.subjectLongitudinal
dc.subjectReproductive coercion
dc.subjectMEDICINE::Surgery::Obstetrics and women's diseases::Reproductive health
dc.subjectSub-Saharan Africa
dc.titleLongitudinal impact of past-year reproductive coercion on contraceptive use dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: evidence from eight population-based cohorts
dc.typeArticle

Files

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
omoluabi_longitudinal_impact_of_past-year_2025.pdf
Size:
1.14 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: