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 Researchers focused on what's known as reproductive coercion, a form
of relationship abuse that can involve things like poking holes in
condoms, hiding birth control pills, physically hurting girls who
refuse to have unprotected sex, or threatening to break up with them
if they don't want a baby.
The study team examined survey data from 550 sexually active girls
14 to 19 years old who sought care from high school health centers.
Overall, 12% reported experiencing reproductive coercion within the
past three months, and 17% reported physical or sexual abuse.
"Abuse among all types of romantic relationships is common," said
Amber Hill, lead author of the study and a researcher at the
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pennsylvania.
"Reproductive coercion, another form of relationship abuse, involves
a range of behaviors that include pressuring a partner to become
pregnant when they don't want to be, destroying birth control or
preventing the use of birth control, and removing condoms during sex
(to get her pregnant)," Hill said by email. "Reproductive coercion
impacts teens as well as adults and leads to poor health outcomes,
such as unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections."
Teens who experienced reproductive coercion in the study were more
than four times as likely as those who didn't to report recently
experiencing physical or sexual abuse in their relationships, Hill
and her colleagues report in Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Relationship coercion and physical and sexual abuse were more common
among teen girls who had partners at least five years their senior
and among girls who reported two or more recent sexual partners.
Relationship abuse was associated with higher odds that girls would
seek testing or treatment for sexually transmitted infections. But
it didn't impact requests for pregnancy tests, which may be because
girls could easily get over-the-counter tests, the researchers note.
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All of the teens in the study received care at school health centers
in Northern California, and it's possible results might be different
elsewhere.
Even so, dating abuse is much more common than many teens or parents
may realize, said Emily Rothman, a professor of community health
sciences at the Boston University School of Public Health who wasn't
involved in the study.
It can happen in any couple, and with any hook-up, making it
critical for young women to recognize the warning signs, Rothman
said by email.
"Warning signs include not paying attention to what you say you want
to do or not do, being selfish in bed, or careless with your
feelings," Rothman said. "A good partner listens to you, cares about
how you feel, and doesn't make you feel awkward about it."
Help is available by calling the National Domestic Violence Hotline
at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Loveisrespect also provides free support
and information for teens and young adults who need help with dating
abuse: (Chat at www.loveisrespect.org, Text loveis to 22522 or call
1-866-331-9474).
"If you are a teenager and you find yourself crying over what
somebody said or did to you more than once or twice, it's not OK and
the relationship may not be a healthy one," Rothman added. "And even
if both sides know it's just a hook-up, there are still ways of
being sweet and nice in a hook-up or ways that are rude,
controlling, harmful and unacceptable."
SOURCE: https://bit.ly/2TEo2Rl Obstetrics & Gynecology, online July
11, 2019.
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