Intimate partner violence and sexual and reproductive health outcomes of women: An Australian population cohort study

Objective

To examine sexual and reproductive health outcomes of women who report intimate partner violence (IPV) and compare these outcomes to women who did not report IPV.

Methods

Utilising the Cohort of women born in 1973–1978 and aged 18–23 years when recruited to participate in the National Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health, we conducted an analysis in 2022–2023 of the relationships between exposure to IPV and reproductive and sexual health outcomes for this cohort over a decade (1996 to 2006). Logistic regression analyses were undertaken, mixed effects regression models were applied where feasible.

Results

The current study indicates exposure to IPV significantly increases the likelihood of forced sex, reporting endometriosis, infertility, miscarriage, pregnancy termination, along with greater odds of infertility, termination, and miscarriage increasing with greater exposure to IPV. Women reporting IPV also report a greater likelihood of STIs such as chlamydia, herpes, and genital warts, in addition to a higher incidence of abnormal Pap tests. Women reporting IPV were also more likely to have a larger number of births, with births occurring earlier than those who did not report IPV.

Conclusion

Addressing the global issue of IPV, healthcare organisations must offer robust support, including clear guidelines and protocols for managing IPV and the associated health risks among women. This should extend to providing access to resources and referral systems among those identified as experiencing IPV. Interdisciplinary collaboration remains essential to create a holistic approach to managing IPV and the associated health consequences to promote positive sexual and reproductive health outcomes for women.