Indicators for Reproductive Violence: A Systematized Review to Develop a Multilevel Measurement Framework

The term reproductive violence (RV) unifies forms of gender-based violence that compromise reproductive autonomy. This study developed a multilevel quantitative measurement framework for RV comprised of indicators at the interpersonal, community, institutional, and law and policy levels. We conducted a systematized literature review, extracting and scoring existing indicators based on prior testing in a low- and middle-income country setting, psychometric data, feasibility, and face validity. The literature review identified 84 peer-reviewed studies, inclusive of 448 indicators that were extracted and scored. Ultimately, 112 indicators were included in the RV measurement framework. Indicators were organized by level of the social-ecological model and across three categories: (1) pregnancy-promoting RV, (2) pregnancy-preventing RV, and (3) legal and social liabilities of pregnancy and parenthood. This study provides the first multilevel measurement framework for RV. Further research is needed to develop indicators for understudied RV constructs and validate the framework. The resulting framework will be used at the subnational, national, and regional levels to understand barriers to reproductive autonomy.