The Relationship Between Intimate Partner Violence and Unintended Pregnancy: Eastern Sub Saharan African Countries’ Analysis of Demographic and Health Surveys

This study analyzed the link between intimate partner violence (IPV) and unintended pregnancy among ever-married or cohabiting women in six Eastern Sub-Saharan African countries using DHS data. It found that 38% of pregnancies were unintended, with significantly higher rates among women who experienced any IPV (45%) and sexual violence (55%). After adjusting for confounders, women exposed to sexual violence had an 80% higher risk of unintended pregnancy. Other risk factors included having more than five children, living in rural areas, and facing financial barriers to healthcare. The study underscores the urgent need to integrate IPV prevention into sexual and reproductive health programs to reduce unintended pregnancies in the region.

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