title: Intimate partner violence and pregnancy intentions: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this qualitative study, we explored women's pregnancy intentions and experiences of intimate partner violence before, during and after pregnancy.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Unintended pregnancies in the context of intimate partner violence can have serious health, social and economic consequences for women and their children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Feminist and phenomenological philosophies underpinned the study to gain a richer understanding of women's experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven women who had been pregnant in the previous two years were recruited from community-based women's refuges in one region of the UK. Of the 11 women, eight had unplanned pregnancies, two reported being coerced into early motherhood, and only one woman had purposively planned her pregnancy. Multiple in-depth interviews focused on participants' accounts of living with intimate partner violence. Experiential data analysis was used to identify, analyse and highlight themes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three major themes were identified: men's control of contraception, partner's indiscriminate response to the pregnancy and women's mixed feelings about the pregnancy. Participants reported limited influence over their sexual relationship and birth control. Feelings of vulnerability about themselves and fear for their unborn babies' safety were intensified by their partners' continued violence during pregnancy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women experiencing intimate partner violence were more likely to have an unintended pregnancy. This could be attributed to male dominance and fear, which impacts on a woman's ability to manage her birth control options. The women's initial excitement about their pregnancy diminished in the face of uncertainty and ongoing violence within their relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women experiencing violence lack choice in relation to birth control options leading to unintended pregnancies. Interpreting the findings from the victim-perpetrator interactive spin theory of intimate partner violence provides a possible framework for midwives and nurses to better understand and respond to women's experiences of violence during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Qld, Australia.|Women's & Newborn Services, Gold Coast University Hospital, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, University Drive, Meadowbrook, Qld, Australia.
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Creedy
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health & Society, University of Worcester, Worcester, UK.
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008427:Maternal Health Services; D011247:Pregnancy; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: feminism; intimate partner violence; midwifery; phenomenology