title: The impact of violence against women on reproductive health and child mortality in Timor-Leste.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine differences in reproductive health and infant and child mortality and health between abused and non-abused ever-married women in Timor-Leste.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary data analysis of Timor-Leste Demographic Health Survey (1,959 ever-married women aged 15-49 years). Associations with violence estimated using multinomial logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic variables and age of first intercourse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall, 45% of ever-married women experienced violence: 34% reported physical only and 11% reported combined physical, sexual and/or emotional violence. Compared to non-abused women, women reporting physical violence only were more likely to use traditional contraception (AdjOR 2.35, 95%CI 1.05-5.26) or report: a sexually transmitted infection (AdjOR 4.46, 95%CI 3.27-6.08); a pregnancy termination (AdjOR 1.42, 95%CI 1.03-1.96); a child who had died (AdjOR 1.30, 95%CI 1.05-1.60), a low birth weight infant (AdjOR 2.08, 95%CI 1.64-2.64); and partially vaccinated children (AdjOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.05-1.74). Women who reported combined abuse were more likely to report: a sexually transmitted infection (AdjOR 3.51, 95%CI 2.26-5.44); a pregnancy termination (AdjOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.27-3.01); few antenatal visits (AdjOR 1.76 95%CI 1.21-2.55); and a child who had died (AdjOR 1.45, 95%CI 1.06-2.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Violence exposes women to poor reproductive health, infant and child mortality and poor infant and child health.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preventing and reducing violence against women should improve women and children's health outcomes in Timor-Leste.
authors.affiliation: Judith Lumley Centre, La Trobe University, Victoria.
authors.forename: Angela J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Taft
authors.forename: Rhonda L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: Lyndsey F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Watson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D046688:Child Mortality / Q000208:ethnology*; D002669:Child Welfare; D003268:Contraception Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned; D015995:Prevalence; D060728:Reproductive Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D049648:Timor-Leste / Q000453:epidemiology; D016387:Women's Health / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Timor-Leste; infant health; intimate partner violence; maternal health