Intimate Partner Violence, Contraceptive Use and Unintended Pregnancy in Peru

Jennifer A. Mendoza, Ohio State University

A handful of studies have found significant associations between physical and sexual intimate partner violence and unintended births in Latin America. However, these studies have limitations: most utilize cross-sectional data, have an unclear chronology of events, and do not take contraceptive use into account. Using data from the 2004-2008 Peru Demographic and Health Surveys, I examine intimate partner violence, contraceptive use, and unintended pregnancy with refined chronology using contraceptive calendars and timing of the onset of intimate partner violence. I utilize Multinomial Logistic Regression Models to estimate the effects of prior experience of intimate partner violence on mistimed and unwanted pregnancy, and Competing Risk Regressions to test whether the hazards of contraceptive adoption, discontinuation and failure during the calendar period differ by IPV experience. Results support findings in prior literature by demonstrating that significant effects of intimate partner violence persist even after chronology is established.