Abuse from in-laws and associations with attempts to control reproductive decisions among rural women in Côte d'Ivoire: a cross-sectional study

BJOG. 2012 Aug;119(9):1058-66. doi: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.2012.03401.x. Epub 2012 Jun 7.

Abstract

Objective: To document the lifetime prevalence of abuse from in-laws (both nonphysical maltreatment and physical violence), the forms of in-law abuse and reproductive control, and the relationship between experiences of in-law abuse and reproductive control among partnered women in rural Côte d'Ivoire.

Design: Cross-sectional study using baseline data (October 2010) from a randomised controlled trial examining socio-economic interventions on reduction of violence against Ivorian women.

Setting: Rural Côte d'Ivoire.

Population: A total of 981 Ivorian women aged 18 years and older who reported having a male partner and a current source of stable income.

Methods: Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression.

Main outcome measures: Lifetime, in-law-perpetrated reproductive control.

Results: More than one in four (27.0%) women reported experiencing lifetime in-law abuse. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, in-law abuse was significantly associated with in-law-perpetrated reproductive control (adjusted odds ratio 6.9; 95% confidence interval 3.9-12.2; P < 0.0001). Religion and having fewer pregnancies were also associated with reporting in-law-perpetrated reproductive control.

Conclusions: Increased efforts are needed to involve in-laws in programmes that seek to reduce gender-based violence against women and improve women's reproductive health.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Coercion*
  • Contraception / psychology*
  • Cote d'Ivoire
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Domestic Violence / psychology*
  • Educational Status
  • Employment
  • Family Planning Services
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intergenerational Relations
  • Marital Status
  • Middle Aged
  • Parity
  • Religion
  • Reproductive Health
  • Rural Health