Prevalence and correlates of reproductive coercion in the months before pregnancy: cross-sectional findings from pregnant women in Ethiopia.

backgroundReproductive coercion (RC), a form of intimate partner violence involving pressure, threats, or manipulation to control women's reproductive decisions-including contraceptive use and pregnancy-poses significant threats to women's health and rights by constraining their ability to make autonomous choices. This study examined the prevalence and correlates of past-year RC among pregnant Ethiopian women.

methodsCross-sectional data collected between October and December 2019 from the Performance Monitoring for Action-Ethiopia population-based cohort of pregnant women (N = 2169) were used. Past-year RC was assessed as a binary (any RC) and categorical (none, less severe, more severe) variable. Descriptive analyses were conducted to examine RC and sample characteristics. Estimated marginal effects were used to predict the probability of RC in the year before pregnancy. Binary and multinomial logistic regression were used to identify correlates of RC.

results27.3% of pregnant women reported any past-year RC (16.2% less severe; 11.1% more severe). The adjusted probability of any RC in the year before pregnancy was 32.6% (95% CI: 26.1-39.2; 18.2% less severe; 14.3% more severe). Risk factors for any RC included higher household wealth (aOR

conclusionsIn Ethiopia, many women experience RC before pregnancy. Having two or more children and more than a secondary education are protective against RC. Risk factors for the most severe forms of RC include residing in Amhara, greater household wealth, cohabitation, and previous marriage or cohabitating relationships. Findings highlight the need for targeted interventions that address modifiable factors in high-risk populations and settings, such as engaging boys and men to prevent RC, and integrating RC response into pregnancy care to enhance women's reproductive autonomy.