title: Intimate partner violence, abortion, and unintended pregnancy: results from the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore how intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with unintended pregnancy and abortion in primarily low- and middle-income countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population data are presented from 17 518 ever-partnered women participating in the WHO Multi-country Study on Women's Health and Domestic Violence in 15 sites in 10 countries. Using multiple logistic regression analyses, associations between physical and/or sexual partner violence and abortion and unintended pregnancy were explored.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with a history of IPV had significantly higher odds of unintended pregnancy in 8 of 14 sites and of abortion in 12 of 15 sites. Pooled estimates showed increased odds of unintended pregnancy (adjusted OR 1.69; 95% CI, 1.53-1.86) and abortion (adjusted OR 2.68; 95% CI, 2.34-3.06), after adjusting for confounding factors. Reducing IPV by 50% could potentially reduce unintended pregnancy by 2%-18% and abortion by 4.5%-40%, according to population-attributable risk estimates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPV is a consistent and strong risk factor for unintended pregnancy and abortion across a variety of settings. Unintended pregnancy terminated through unsafe abortion can result in death or serious complications. Therefore, reducing IPV can significantly reduce risks to maternal and reproductive health.
authors.affiliation: World Health Organization, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christina C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Pallitto
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: García-Moreno
authors.forename: Henrica A F M
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Heise
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellsberg
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Watts
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017579:Domestic Violence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014944:World Health Organization; D055815:Young Adult