How Reproductive Coercion and Abuse Shapes Survivors' Safety and Life Circumstances: A Systematic Review
摘要
Reproductive coercion and abuse involve controlling the reproductive choices of another person through physical, psychological, or sexual violence. This systematic review examines how reproductive coercion and abuse—perpetrated by intimate partners, family members, and communities—impact survivors' lives beyond immediate health effects. Our analysis focuses on consequences for safety and life circumstances, including education, employment, housing, and parenting experiences.
MethodsWe conducted comprehensive searches across multiple databases (CINAHL, MEDLINE, Scopus), gray literature, and ten key journals and used backward and forward citation searching with no date restrictions up to 31st March 2024. The inclusion criteria included qualitative research and the qualitative components of mixed-methods studies that documented firsthand accounts of reproductive coercion and abuse from survivors. Only English-language publications were included.
ResultsWe screened 3612 records and assessed 2732 full-text papers for eligibility, with 58 meeting inclusion criteria. Our study revealed that reproductive coercion and abuse undermine multiple aspects of survivors' and their children's lives, including safety, education, employment, housing, pregnancy decisions, and parenting. The analysis highlights intersections with broader intimate partner violence, including sexual violence, suggesting a potential link to increased lethality.
ConclusionsFurther research is needed to address the critical knowledge gaps we identified, particularly regarding long-term effects on children and the intersection with structural inequalities. Findings underscore the need for integrated, trauma-informed services addressing the complex interplay of reproductive coercion and abuse and domestic, family and sexual violence.