The association between intimate partner violence and unintended pregnancy among married young women in Ethiopia

Abstract BackgroundAdolescent and young women aged 15–24 years experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). Even though IPV has been a common challenge in low-and middle-income countries, there is a paucity of research that explored the effect of intimate partner violence on unintended pregnancy in young women, despite their vulnerability. Therefore, investigating the association between IPV and unintended pregnancy in younger population is critical for developing a multifaceted intervention to reduce the rate of unintended pregnancy and its advese consequences.MethodsData were obtained from the 2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS). A total of 706 ever married or in sexual union aged 15–24 who gave birth at least once in the last five years or became pregnant at the time of the survey were included in the final analysis. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression were carried out. SPSS version 20.0 was used for data analysis.ResultsAdolecent and young women aged 15–24 years reported 21.1% ( n = 149) unintended pregnancies and 64.2% experience at least one form of IPV (physical, sexual, emotional or marital control). Marital control (59.5%) and sexual violence (8.8%) were the most and least prevalent forms of reported IPV respectively. After adjusting for possible confounders, women who ever experienced physical violence (AOR: 1.54; 95% CI = 1.02–2.34), marital control (AOR: 1.68; 95% CI = 1.13–2.48) and emotional violence (AOR: 1.90; 95% CI = 1.25–2.89) had increased odds of unintended pregnancy, compared to those who had no history of the respective form of violence.ConclusionPhysical violence, marital control and emotional violence were an important predictors of unintended pregnancy among adolescent and young girls. Therefore, reducing unintended pregnancy among adolescent and young girls requires interventions beyond increasing access to contraceptive information and services; including empowering women, promoting men's involvement in fertility control and optimizing violent relationship is critical. Including intimate partner violence screening and treatment in reproductive health services is also necessary.