title: Birth control sabotage and forced sex: experiences reported by women in domestic violence shelters.
abstract: Women who experience intimate partner violence often experience birth control sabotage, forced sex, and partner's unwillingness to use condoms. We interviewed 53 women at four domestic violence shelters. Participants reported that their abusive partners frequently refused to use condoms, impeded them from accessing health care, and subjected them to birth control sabotage, infidelity, and forced sex. However, women also reported strategies to counteract these actions, particularly against birth control sabotage and attempts to force them to abort or continue a pregnancy. Domestic violence counselors can focus on these successful strategies to validate coping skills and build self-esteem.
authors.affiliation: California Department of Public Health, Office of Family Planning, 1615 Capitol Ave., P.O. Box 997420, MS 8400, Sacramento, CA 95899-7413, USA. thielh@obgyn.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Heike
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thiel de Bocanegra
authors.forename: Daria P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Rostovtseva
authors.forename: Satin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khera
authors.forename: Nita
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Godhwani
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women; D003068:Coercion; D003153:Community Health Services; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011902:Rape; D012495:San Francisco; D012649:Self Concept; D012747:Sexual Partners; D013179:Spouse Abuse; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult