Willie TC, Alexander KA, Caplon A, Kershaw TS, Safon CB, Galvao RW, Kaplan C, Caldwell A, Calabrese SK. Birth Control Sabotage as a Correlate of Women's Sexual Health Risk: An Exploratory Study.
Womens Health Issues 2021;
31:157-163. [PMID:
33218751 PMCID:
PMC8005431 DOI:
10.1016/j.whi.2020.10.003]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION
To explore associations between birth control sabotage, a form of reproductive coercion, and women's sexual risk among women attending family planning health centers. Data were collected from a 2017 cross-sectional online survey of 675 women who attended Connecticut Planned Parenthood centers. Participants reported birth control sabotage; sexual risk (i.e., inconsistent condom use during vaginal and anal sex in the past 6 months, lifetime sexually transmitted infection diagnosis, lifetime exchange sex [trading sex for money, drugs, or other goods], and multiple sexual partners in the past 6 months); and sociodemographics. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine associations between birth control sabotage and women's sexual risk.
RESULTS
One in six women (16.4%; n = 111) reported experiencing birth control sabotage. Women who reported birth control sabotage had a greater odds of ever having an sexually transmitted infection (adjusted odds ratio, 2.18; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-3.60; p = .003), ever engaging in exchange sex (adjusted odds ratio, 2.77; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-6.53; p = .020), and having multiple sexual partners in the past 6 months (adjusted odds ratio, 1.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-3.18; p = .006).
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings demonstrate increased engagement in sexual risk taking among women who reported birth control sabotage compared with women did not.
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