Early Marriage and Sexual and Reproductive Health Vulnerabilities of Young Women: a Synthesis of Recent Evidence from Developing Countries K.G

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Early Marriage and Sexual and Reproductive Health Vulnerabilities of Young Women: a Synthesis of Recent Evidence from Developing Countries K.G Early marriage and sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities of young women: a synthesis of recent evidence from developing countries K.G. Santhya Population Council, New Delhi, India Purpose of review Correspondence to K.G. Santhya, Associate, To review current evidence on the links between early marriage and health-related Population Council, Zone 5A, Ground Floor, India outcomes for young women and their children. Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India Tel: +91 11 2464 2901/2902; Recent findings fax: +91 11 2464 2903; Every third young woman in the developing countries excluding China continues to e-mail: [email protected] marry as a child, that is before age 18. Recent studies reiterate the adverse health Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology consequences of early marriage among young women and their children even after a 2011, 23:334–339 host of confounding factors are controlled. The current evidence is conclusive with regard to many indicators: unintended pregnancy, pregnancy-related complications, preterm delivery, delivery of low birth weight babies, fetal mortality and violence within marriage. However, findings present a mixed picture with regard to many other indicators, the risk of HIV and the risk of neonatal, infant and early childhood mortality, for example. Summary The findings call for further examination of the health consequences of early marriage. What are even less clear are the pathways through which the associations between early marriage and adverse outcomes take place. There is a need for research that traces these links. At the same time, findings argue strongly for programmatic measures that delay marriage and recognize the special vulnerabilities of married adolescent girls. Keywords developing countries, early marriage, infant and child health, sexual and reproductive consequences, young women Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol 23:334–339 ß 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 1040-872X and sexual and reproductive health vulnerabilities of Introduction young women in developing countries. Although the prevalence of early marriage is declining, considerable proportions of young women continue to In this overview, I have gathered evidence from studies marry as children, that is before age 18 [1,2]. It is globally published primarily in the last 3 years on early marriage recognized that early marriage truncates girls’ childhood and its consequences. Most studies that have explored and circumscribes several rights of girl children outlined consequences of early marriage included in this review in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), are cross-sectional which raises concerns about inferring including the right not to be separated from their parents causality. I note, however, that early marriage occurred against their will (Article 9), the right to freedom of much before the outcomes assessed in these studies and, expression (including seeking and receiving information therefore, temporal ordering of events and causal influ- and ideas, Article 13), the right to education (Articles 28 ence of early marriage can be safely assumed. and 29), the right to rest and leisure and to engage in play and recreational activities (Article 31) and the right to protection from sexual exploitation and abuse Magnitude of early marriage (Article 34) [3]. Moreover, an increasing body of evidence The State of the World’s Children 2011 that focuses from diverse settings suggests that the long-held assump- on adolescence observes that every third young woman tion that marriage is a safe haven for adolescent girls is (20–24 year old) in the developing countries, excluding untenable and that a number of health consequences are China (data on the prevalence of early marriage are not associated with early marriage. This article synthesizes available for China; moreover, early marriages are rare in what is known about the links between early marriage China, for example data for the year 2000 indicate that 1040-872X ß 2011 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins DOI:10.1097/GCO.0b013e32834a93d2 Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. Sexual and reproductive health consequences of early marriage Santhya 335 just 1% of 15–19 year-old girls were ever married and that Key points the singulate mean age at marriage for women was 23.3 years), was married as a child [1]. Moreover, one in nine Every third young woman in the developing young women was married by age 15 [2]. These averages, countries excluding China continues to marry as a however, mask the huge variations within and between child, that is before age 18. regions across the world. For example, in south Asia and Early marriage is clearly correlated with a range of sub-Saharan Africa, 46 and 38% of young women, respec- adverse health consequences among young women and their children even after a host of confounding tively, were married as children; the proportion is as factors are controlled: unintended pregnancy, preg- high as 55 and 50% in the rural areas of these two regions, nancy-related complications, preterm delivery, fetal respectively [1]. In countries such as Bangladesh, Central mortality and violence within marriage. African Republic, Chad, Ethiopia, Guinea, Malawi, Mali, Findings are not conclusive about the association Mozambique, Nepal and Niger, one-half to three-quarters between early marriage and the risk of HIV and the of girls were married before their 18th birthday [2]. risk of neonatal, infant and early childhood mortality. Sexual and reproductive health marriage on a young woman’s ability to effectively prac- consequences tise contraception. For example, a number of studies in Studies reviewed in this article, by and large, indicate that India show that young women who married early were early marriage is associated with a range of adverse sexual less likely than their late-marrying counterparts to have and reproductive health outcomes for young women and used contraceptives to delay their first pregnancy [4,7]. poor health outcomes for children they bear. Findings, moreover, show that it compromises young women’s HIV ability to adopt health promoting practices and seek Studies exploring the links between early marriage and timely care. sexually transmitted infections have focused on young women’s risk of HIV; most of these studies were con- Unintended pregnancy ducted in sub-Saharan African countries. Evidence from Studies in a number of south Asian countries, including these studies presents a mixed picture with regard to the Bangladesh, India and Nepal, show a direct association links between early marriage and young women’s risk between early marriage and unintended pregnancy, irre- of HIV. spective of the measure of unintended pregnancy or the study sample used in the analysis. For example, a study of Studies that have compared the prevalence of HIV infec- married young women aged 20–24 years in India reports tion in married adolescents aged 15–19 years and their that young women married early were 1.7 times more sexually active unmarried counterparts in a number of likely than those married late to have experienced any sub-Saharan African countries – Kenya, Tanzania and unwanted pregnancy even after controlling for confound- Cameroon for example – suggest that married adolescent ing factors such as level of education, place of residence, girls have higher rates of HIV infection than do sexually household economic status and religion. They were, active unmarried girls [8]. It is argued that being married moreover, more than twice as likely to have experienced at a young age is associated with engaging in frequent multiple unwanted pregnancies [4]. Similarly, a study of unprotected sex, having older sexual partners and having married women of reproductive ages who were pregnant less exposure to sources of information, all of which at the time of the survey in Nepal reports that almost half increase married adolescent girls’ vulnerability. (46%) of women married below 16 years compared with one-third (36%) of those married at 16 years or later This assertion, however, has been questioned by several reported their current pregnancy as unintended; the recent studies. Using ecological data from 33 countries in association remained significant in the multivariate sub-Saharan Africa and individual-level data from Kenya analysis too [odds ratio (OR) 0.94] [5]. A study in and Ghana, a study found that a long period of premarital Bangladesh, likewise, reports that women who married sexual experience contributes to the spread of HIV (an below 18 years were somewhat more likely than their additional year of premarital sexual intercourse raised late-marrying counterparts to report the most recent birth HIV prevalence by 1.52%) and that the annual risk of during the 5 years preceding the interview as unintended; infection is significantly higher for exposure before than the association, however, did not assume statistical after first marriage (OR 1.21 vs. 1.11 in Kenya; 1.22 vs. significance in the multivariate analysis [6]. 1.08 in Ghana) [9]. The higher risk of HIV infection among sexually active never married women is attributed The exact pathways through which early marriage leads to a higher rate of partner change and higher infectivity of to unintended pregnancy need further study. However, a partners. Similar findings were observed in studies in primary explanation lies in the constraining effect of early Tanzania and Cameroon as well. For example, a study of Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited. 336 Adolescent and pediatric gynecology 3780 women attending antenatal clinics in Tanzania premature rupture of membrane, antepartum haemor- reports that the odds of infection increased by 10% rhage and postpartum haemorrhage (44 vs. 22%, respec- for each extra year spent sexually active before marriage tively); incidence of such conditions as eclampsia and [10]. Similarly, a study of women aged 20–24 years in preeclampsia was six times higher among adolescents Cameroon reports that women married at age 20 or later than adult women (20 vs.
Recommended publications
  • The Male Reproductive System
    Management of Men’s Reproductive 3 Health Problems Men’s Reproductive Health Curriculum Management of Men’s Reproductive 3 Health Problems © 2003 EngenderHealth. All rights reserved. 440 Ninth Avenue New York, NY 10001 U.S.A. Telephone: 212-561-8000 Fax: 212-561-8067 e-mail: [email protected] www.engenderhealth.org This publication was made possible, in part, through support provided by the Office of Population, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), under the terms of cooperative agreement HRN-A-00-98-00042-00. The opinions expressed herein are those of the publisher and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID. Cover design: Virginia Taddoni ISBN 1-885063-45-8 Printed in the United States of America. Printed on recycled paper. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Men’s reproductive health curriculum : management of men’s reproductive health problems. p. ; cm. Companion v. to: Introduction to men’s reproductive health services, and: Counseling and communicating with men. Includes bibliographical references. ISBN 1-885063-45-8 1. Andrology. 2. Human reproduction. 3. Generative organs, Male--Diseases--Treatment. I. EngenderHealth (Firm) II. Counseling and communicating with men. III. Title: Introduction to men’s reproductive health services. [DNLM: 1. Genital Diseases, Male. 2. Physical Examination--methods. 3. Reproductive Health Services. WJ 700 M5483 2003] QP253.M465 2003 616.6’5--dc22 2003063056 Contents Acknowledgments v Introduction vii 1 Disorders of the Male Reproductive System 1.1 The Male
    [Show full text]
  • Background Note on Human Rights Violations Against Intersex People Table of Contents 1 Introduction
    Background Note on Human Rights Violations against Intersex People Table of Contents 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 2 2 Understanding intersex ................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Situating the rights of intersex people......................................................................... 4 2.2 Promoting the rights of intersex people....................................................................... 7 3 Forced and coercive medical interventions......................................................................... 8 4 Violence and infanticide ............................................................................................... 20 5 Stigma and discrimination in healthcare .......................................................................... 22 6 Legal recognition, including registration at birth ............................................................... 26 7 Discrimination and stigmatization .................................................................................. 29 8 Access to justice and remedies ....................................................................................... 32 9 Addressing root causes of human rights violations ............................................................ 35 10 Conclusions and way forward..................................................................................... 37 10.1 Conclusions
    [Show full text]
  • TAKE CHARGE of YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH What You Need to Know About Preventive Services
    TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH What you need to know about preventive services NATIONAL COALITION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH NATIONAL COALITION FOR SEXUAL HEALTH TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR SEXUAL HEALTH What you need to know about preventive services This guide was developed with the assistance of the Health Care Action Group of the National Coalition for Sexual Health. To learn more about the coalition, visit http://www.nationalcoalitionforsexualhealth.org. Suggested citation Partnership for Prevention. Take Charge of Your Sexual Health: What you need to know about preventive services. Washington, DC: Partnership for Prevention; 2014. Take Charge of Your Sexual Health: What you need to know about preventive services was supported by cooperative agreement number 5H25PS003610-03 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of Partnership for Prevention and do not necessarily represent the official views of CDC. Partnership for Prevention 1015 18th St NW, Ste. 300 Washington DC, 20036 2015 What’s in this Guide? • Action steps for achieving good sexual health • Information on recommended sexual health services for men and women • Tips on how to talk with a health care provider • Resources on sexual health topics This guide informs men and women of all ages, including teens and older adults, about sexual health. It focuses on the preventive services (screenings, vaccines, and counseling) that can help protect and improve your sexual health. The guide explains these recommended services and helps you find and talk with a health care provider. CONTENTS SEXUAL HEALTH AND HOW TO ACHIEVE IT 2 WHAT ARE PREVENTIVE SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES? 3 WHAT SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES DO WOMEN NEED? 4 WHAT SEXUAL HEALTH SERVICES DO MEN NEED? 9 WHAT TYPES OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS ADDRESS SEXUAL HEALTH? 13 TALKING WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER ABOUT SEXUAL HEALTH 14 WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A SEXUAL HEALTH CARE PROVIDER 16 WHERE TO LEARN MORE 18 What is Sexual Health and How Do I Achieve it? A healthier body.
    [Show full text]
  • 2019 Maryland STI Annual Report
    November 2020 Dear Marylanders, The Maryland Department of Health (MDH) Center for STI Prevention (CSTIP) is pleased to present the 2019 Maryland STI Annual Report. Under Maryland law, health care providers and laboratories must report all laboratory-confirmed cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis to the state health department or the local health department where a patient resides. Other STIs, such as herpes, trichomoniasis, and human papillomavirus (HPV), also affect sexual and reproductive health, but these are not reportable infections and therefore cannot be tracked and are not included in this report. CSTIP epidemiologists collect, interpret and disseminate population-level data based on the reported cases of chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and congenital syphilis, to inform state and local health officials, health care providers, policymakers and the public about disease trends and their public health impact. The data include cases, rates, and usually, Maryland’s national rankings for each STI, which are calculated once all states’ STI data are reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC then publishes these data, including state-by-state rankings, each fall for the prior year. The 2019 report is not expected to be released until early 2021 because of COVID-related lags in reporting across the country. The increases in STIs observed in Maryland over the past 10 years mirrors those occurring nationwide, and the increasing public health, medical and economic burden of STIs are cause for deep concern. The causes for these increases are likely multi-factorial. According to CDC, data suggest contributing factors include: Substance use, poverty, stigma, and unstable housing, all of which can reduce access to prevention and care Decreased condom use among vulnerable groups Shrinking public health resources over years resulting in clinic closures, reduced screening, staff loss, and reduced patient follow-up and linkage to care services Stemming the tide of STIs requires national, state and local collaboration.
    [Show full text]
  • Contraception and Beyond: the Health Benefits of Services Provided at Family Planning Centers Megan L
    July 2013 Contraception and Beyond: The Health Benefits of Services Provided at Family Planning Centers Megan L. Kavanaugh and Ragnar M. Anderson HIGHLIGHTS n A large and growing body of literature explores the health benefits related to services received at family planning clinics. n Research indicates that family planning, including planning, delaying and spacing pregnancies, is linked to improved birth outcomes for babies, either directly or through healthy maternal behaviors during pregnancy. n Contraceptive methods have a range of benefits other than their primary purpose of preg- nancy prevention. Contraception reduces pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality, reduces the risk of developing certain reproductive cancers, and can be used to treat many menstrual- related symptoms and disorders. n In addition to contraception, a range of other beneficial health services are available to clients at family planning clinics. Services to prevent, screen for and treat diseases and conditions such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, HPV and cervical cancer, as well as to address intimate partner violence, benefit both female and male clients who visit these clinics. n Because not all women have equal access to the many benefits of contraception and other health services, there is more work to be done in implementing programs and policies that advance contraceptive access and improve health outcomes for all women. CONTENTS Introduction.......................................................................................3 Background and History
    [Show full text]
  • Association Between Child Marriage and Reproductive Health Outcomes and Service Utilization: a Multi-Country Study from South Asia
    Journal of Adolescent Health 52 (2013) 552e558 www.jahonline.org Original article Association Between Child Marriage and Reproductive Health Outcomes and Service Utilization: A Multi-Country Study From South Asia Deepali Godha, M.B.B.S., Ph.D. a,*, David R. Hotchkiss, Ph.D. b, and Anastasia J. Gage, Ph.D. b a Independent Consultant, Indore, India b Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana Article history: Received July 19, 2012; Accepted January 25, 2013 Keywords: Child marriage; South Asia; Fertility; Contraceptive use; Maternal health care utilization ABSTRACT IMPLICATIONS AND CONTRIBUTION Purpose: Despite the pervasiveness of child marriage and its potentially adverse consequences on reproductive health outcomes, there is relatively little empirical evidence available on this issue, Child brides are a key which has hindered efforts to improve the targeting of adolescent health programs. The purpose of subgroup requiring im- this study was to assess the association of child marriage with fertility, fertility control, and maternal proved focus by reproduc- health care use outcomes in four South Asian countries: India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan. tive health programs. The Methods: Data for the study come from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys con- study provides insight ducted in the study countries; we used a subsample of women aged 20e24 years. Child marriage, into the associations of defined as first marriage before 18 years of age, is categorized into two groups: first married at ages child marriage with ad- 15e17 years and first married at age 14 years. We used multivariate logistic regression models.
    [Show full text]
  • WHO-RUSH Reproductive Health Sexually Transmitted Infections Stis VPC
    WHO-RUSH Reproductive health sexually transmitted infections STIs VPC 05 June 2019 MO Moderator MT Doctor Melanie Taylor TW Doctor Teodora Wi CH Christina AG Anne Gulland NA Nina Abrahama LY Leslie Young MO World Health Organization virtual press briefing on new global data on sexually transmitted infections. This study will be published online tomorrow, Thursday, and I would like to remind you that this is an embargoed briefing. The embargo lifts at 16:00, that is four p.m. Geneva time, tomorrow, Thursday 6th June. Embargoed copies of the paper and a press release are available. If you have not already received these, please contact us via email. I have with me in the studio right now Doctor Melanie Taylor, who’s the lead author of the study and an expert in sexually transmitted infections, and Doctor Teodora Wi, our WHO Medical Officer for sexually transmitted infections. Doctor Taylor will give a brief outline of the findings of the study, and then Doctor Wi will talk about what we can do to tackle this serious and growing problem. I will then open the floor to questions. To ask a question during the question and answer session, registered participants should type zero one on their telephone keypad. This will place you in the queue to ask questions. Please note, only participants who have clearly identified themselves and their media outlet will be able to ask questions. So now I’ll hand you over to Doctor Melanie Taylor, who will tell us about the key findings and what they mean. MT Thank you.
    [Show full text]
  • Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Reproductive and Sexual Coercion
    Addressing Intimate Partner Violence Reproductive and Sexual Coercion: A Guide for Obstetric, Gynecologic, Reproductive Health Care Settings Third Edition By Linda Chamberlain, PhD, MPH and Rebecca Levenson, MA Our vision is now our name. Formerly Family Violence Prevention Fund PRODUCED BY Futures Without Violence, formerly the Family Violence Prevention Fund. ©2013, 3rd edition. FUNDED BY U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health (Grant #1 ASTWH110023-01-00) and Administration on Children, Youth and Families. (Grant #90EV0414) With Special Thanks to: Nancy C. Lee, MD Director Office on Women’s Health Aleisha Langhorne, MPH, MHSA Health Scientist Administrator Office on Women’s Health Marylouise Kelley, PhD Director, Family Violence Prevention & Services Program Family and Youth Services Bureau Administration for Children and Families Futures Without Violence Wishes to Especially Thank the Following for their Contribution: Elizabeth Miller, MD, PhD Chief, Division of Adolescent Medicine Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Jeffrey Waldman, MD Medical Director Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific Phyllis Schoenwald, PA Vice President of Medical Services Planned Parenthood Shasta Pacific Vanessa Cullins, MD, MPH, MBA Vice President of Medical Affairs Planned Parenthood Federation of America Laurie Weaver Chief, Office of Family Planning California Department of Public Health Jacquelyn C. Campbell, PhD, RN, FAAN Anna D. Wolf Chair and Professor School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University Funding for this project was made possible in part by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office on Women’s Health. The views expressed in written materials or publications and by speakers and moderators at HHS co-sponsored activities, do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Reproductive Health Advocates and Marriage Promotion: Asserting a Stake in the Debate
    Issues & Implications dedicated marriage promotion activi- ties and related research. Meanwhile, Reproductive Health Advocates according to an April 2004 report by the Center for Law and Social Policy And Marriage Promotion: (CLASP), a growing number of states have begun to sponsor marriage pro- Asserting a Stake in the Debate motion activities, such as premarital counseling, school-based marriage By Cynthia Dailard education, and education and sup- port services to married couples; “Marriage promotion” represents a ly structure by encouraging out-of- seven states already commit a signifi- cornerstone of social conservatives’ wedlock births among poor women, cant portion of their federal welfare domestic policy agenda, and propos- three of the four purposes of the block grant funding to such types of als designed to promote and strength- 1996 law were designed to promote activities. en marriage are gaining currency at marriage. Notably, however, these all levels of government. Since taking marriage promotion goals permitted Ideology, Research & Reactions office, President Bush has promised the states to spend their welfare to invest in marriage promotion on block grant funds on marriage pro- For many social conservatives, pro- an unprecedented scale through his motion activities targeting not only moting heterosexual marriage goes proposal to reauthorize the nation’s welfare recipients but all Americans. hand in hand with fierce opposition welfare reform law, and legislation to the formal sanctioning of homo- pending before Congress would allo- Although conservatives applauded sexual unions, in the name of “pro- cate substantial funding toward that the 1996 law’s success in promoting tecting” marriage. It also falls under end.
    [Show full text]
  • Four Essays on Birth Control Needs and Risks
    REPRODUCTIVE TRACTS: ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Four Essays on Birth Control Needs and Risks Ruth Dixon-Mueller, Ph.D., and Adrienne Germain !• L* IWHC International Women’s Health Coalition ■ I f| | »f s . ..... *. •$£..v:s. »......' /Sts f, ,v-..-- • #A; .' ?M*% Mil".J‘; $P'; n *■’- f' ;>. :&m ■-. muyM&mp:$??« :: s k!« ; ’ <v ,• ^.;.; - , V v ' r : r ': ? ' '^ : V ; . ; v , '' . : j ••- v v.jft .?&»■• ,fr-.- W• i ' ■ ■ .'? ; !v $■•$M43to& 3 f t 1 • m > :>: i •: I# * ■' - r ■ y .. «i .: ■ &. ,, * 4? 7 $ ^ #*■ dst' f|i % PUP .. y. p•:. ^ ip i 1 /,<. ^‘‘V ''s /* ■■ <. v '}’ g fes ill ■ -*y <- ■ ' W . i'WWsi: -* A j ^ | | $.#.*1 ■ ,'A^iwy, • A .7 j£B ; j, ^! $'/ ‘‘^V ^ ‘ -Swi , ..■ -'» ■■'■ :,.'2-''-ivy ' • ■ ' .' ?.v’' s, • \‘ ' “ V '» a 'f :;m m $&$§& •: S i Stgg. !•'.) ijjf: REPRODUCTIVE TRACTS: ISSUES AND INNOVATIONS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH Four Essays on Birth Control Needs and Risks The first in a series of essays addressing critical issues and innovations in reproductive health. Ruth Dixon-Mueller, Ph.D., and Adrienne Germain IWHC International W omen’s Health Coalition The International Women’s Health Coalition is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting women’s reproductive health and rights in Southern countries. We work in alliance with women’s health advocates, women’s organizations, health professionals, and government officials in Southern countries, and Northern institutions, and together serve as a catalyst for change in national and international policies and programs. Ruth Dixon-Mueller, Ph.D., formerly professor of sociology at the University of California at Davis, is currently working as a consultant on reproductive rights and women’s employment in Southern countries.
    [Show full text]
  • Rape-Related Pregnancy and Association with Reproductive Coercion in the U.S
    HHS Public Access Author manuscript Author ManuscriptAuthor Manuscript Author Am J Prev Manuscript Author Med. Author Manuscript Author manuscript; available in PMC 2019 February 01. Published in final edited form as: Am J Prev Med. 2018 December ; 55(6): 770–776. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2018.07.028. Rape-Related Pregnancy and Association With Reproductive Coercion in the U.S. Kathleen C. Basile, PhD1, Sharon G. Smith, PhD1, Yang Liu, PhD2, Marcie-jo Kresnow, MS2, Amy M. Fasula, PhD3, Leah Gilbert, MD1, and Jieru Chen, PhD2 1Division of Violence Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 2Division of Analysis, Research, and Practice Integration, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 3Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia Abstract Introduction: Rape-related pregnancy is a public health problem where sexual violence and reproductive health intersect; yet, there is a dearth of research to inform public health practice. The authors examined the prevalence and characteristics of rape-related pregnancy in U.S. women and its association with intimate partner reproductive coercion. Methods: Data years 2010–2012 are pooled from the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, a telephone survey of U.S. adults. Accounting for complex survey design, in 2017, authors estimated the prevalence of vaginal rape–related pregnancy for U.S. women overall and by race/ethnicity. The authors also examined the proportion of rape-related pregnancy among victims of vaginal rape overall, by perpetrator type and by presence of reproductive coercion in the context of intimate partner rape.
    [Show full text]
  • TEENAGERS, HEALTH CARE, and the LAW: a Guide to Minors’ Rights in New York State
    TEENAGERS, HEALTH CARE, AND THE LAW: A Guide To Minors’ Rights in New York State The New York Civil Liberties Union in collaboration with The Lowenstein Center for the Public Interest at Lowenstein Sandler LLP 3rd edition, 2018 III. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Teenagers Health Care and the Law was drafted bySECTION Catherine Weiss, Elias Kwon, Rachel A. Shapiro, Patrick J. Vinett, Mary Knodel, Donna Lieberman, and Katharine Bodde based on prior editions by JessicaTITLE Feierman, Donna Lieberman, Anna Schissel, Rebekah Diller, Jaemin Kim and Yeuh-ru Chu. The authors wish to acknowledge support from Beth Haroules, Erin Beth Harrist, Bobby Hodgson, Rashida Richardson, Abby Allender, Sebastian Krueger, Carrie Chatterson and youth organizers from the NYCLU’s Teen Activism Project. TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION .................................................... 8 I. BASIC DEFINITIONS ....................................... 12 Who Is a Minor? ........................................................................... 13 Who Is an Adult? ......................................................................... 13 What Is Informed Consent? ...................................................... 13 What Is Confidentiality? ........................................................... 15 II. CONSENTING TO HEALTH CARE ................. 16 Minors and Consent ....................................................................17 Adults Who Can Consent on Behalf of a Minor ................... 19 Parents ........................................................................................
    [Show full text]