Reproductive Coercion and Associated Health Consequences: A Scoping Review

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Abstract
Reproductive coercion (RC) broadly encompasses behaviors that interfere with a person’s reproductive choices, including control over contraception, pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, and can pose considerable health risks. However, its full impact on health remains insufficiently understood. This scoping review systematically examined empirical literature on the health consequences of RC published between 2010 and 2024. Following JBI methodology and Preferred Reporting Items of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines, we searched five databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO, and Scopus) for peer-reviewed studies reporting on RC and associated health outcomes. Sixty-two studies across 18 countries met inclusion criteria, the majority from high-income settings, revealing adverse effects on reproductive, sexual, and mental health. Most studies focused on pregnancy coercion and contraceptive sabotage perpetrated by male partners. RC was consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Studies associated RC with an increased risk of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. Contraceptive use patterns varied: some studies reported reduced uptake among those experiencing RC, while others described increased use of covert long-acting methods and emergency contraception as protective strategies. Few studies examined physical health outcomes or healthcare utilization following RC. Evidence gaps remain regarding the health consequences of other RC behaviors, including coerced continuation or termination of pregnancy and forced contraception, as well as from low- and middle-income contexts. Clarifying the health consequences linked to current or past experiences of different RC behaviors may support healthcare providers in recognizing and responding to RC, to promote reproductive autonomy and improve health outcomes for RC victim-survivors.
Funding Information
  • Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University

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