The association between intimate partner violence and recent self-managed abortion in India

Previous studies have shown that women who experience intimate partner violence have higher rates of unintended pregnancy and abortion-but whether there are differences between the types of abortion care accessed is unknown. Understanding the predictors of self-managed abortion is important for providing risk-mitigating information and resources to those at highest risk for unintended pregnancy and intimate partner violence. With access to information and medication abortion drugs, it is possible that self-managed abortion can be performed safely, increasing reproductive autonomy for women.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between experiencing intimate partner violence and using self-managed abortion.

This is a cross-sectional analysis of responses of 57,090 married women to the National Family Health Survey-4 conducted across India from 2015 to 2016. The association between the type of intimate partner violence and self-managed abortion was analyzed using multivariable multinomial logistic regression.

Women who have ever experienced physical intimate partner violence were more likely to have any abortion (adjusted relative risk=1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-2.0) and use self-managed abortion (adjusted relative risk=1.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.6) than women who have not experienced physical intimate partner violence. Women who have ever experienced sexual intimate partner violence may have been more likely to use self-managed abortion, though this association was not statistically significant (adjusted relative risk=2.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.7-10.4).

Women who have experienced physical intimate partner violence disproportionately use abortion care, both facility-based and self-managed. Women who have experienced sexual intimate partner violence may also be more likely to use self-managed abortion. Although abortion is legal, self-managed abortion is commonly occurring in India. Self-managed abortion represents an additional choice and enhances reproductive autonomy in settings where abortion is legal. The implementation of risk-mitigation resources and policies regarding self-managed abortion would provide protection and enhanced autonomy to susceptible groups across India.