Racial Differences and the Role of Marital Status in the Association Between Intimate Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy

Abstract

More than half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unintended which may lead to poor health outcomes. Racial and ethnic differences underlying the association between IPV and unintended pregnancy are inconsistent. This study examines the association between IPV and unintended pregnancy across racial/ethnic and marital strata among U.S. women. Data from the national 2009/11 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System consisting of women who recently delivered a live birth baby were analyzed (n=108,220). A dichotomous variable was created to indicate whether women experienced IPV in the 12 months leading to their most recent pregnancy (yes; no). The outcome, pregnancy intention, was dichotomized as intended or unintended. Subpopulation analysis was conducted stratified by race/ethnicity and marital status. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were generated using multiple logistic regression models. The odds of unintended pregnancy were increased for married non-Hispanic White women who reported IPV compared to their non-abused counterparts even after controlling for sociodemographic factors, health care access, and reproductive history. Among unmarried non-Hispanic other women, abused women were significantly less likely to report unintended pregnancy than the non-abused. No significant differences were observed for Hispanic or non-Hispanic Black women. There are significant racial and ethnic differences in the association between IPV and unintended pregnancy. Additionally, the association differed by marital status. Public health professionals and health care providers should be aware of these differences.