The impact of violence against women on reproductive health and child mortality in Timor-Leste : secondary analysis of 2009-2010 Timor-Leste Demographic Health Survey

Type of content
Journal Article
Thesis discipline
Degree name
Publisher
University of Canterbury. School of Law
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Language
Date
2015
Authors
Taft, A.J.
Powell, R.L.
Watson, L.F.
Abstract

Objectives: To determine differences in reproductive health and infant and child mortality and health between abused and non-abused ever-married women in Timor-Leste. Methods: Secondary data analysis of Timor-Leste Demographic Health Survey (1,959 ever-married women aged 15-49 years). Associations with violence estimated using multinomial logistic regression adjusted for sociodemographic variables and age of first intercourse. Results: Overall, 45% of ever-married women experienced violence: 34% reported physical only and 11% reported combined physical, sexual and/or emotional violence. Compared to non-abused women, women reporting physical violence only were more likely to use traditional contraception (AdjOR 2.35, 95%CI 1.05-5.26) or report: a sexually transmitted infection (AdjOR 4.46, 95%CI 3.27-6.08); a pregnancy termination (AdjOR 1.42, 95%CI 1.03-1.96); a child who had died (AdjOR 1.30, 95%CI 1.05-1.60), a low birth weight infant (AdjOR 2.08, 95%CI 1.64-2.64); and partially vaccinated children (AdjOR 1.35, 95%CI 1.05-1.74). Women who reported combined abuse were more likely to report: a sexually transmitted infection (AdjOR 3.51, 95%CI 2.26-5.44); a pregnancy termination (AdjOR 1.95, 95%CI 1.27-3.01); few antenatal visits (AdjOR 1.76 95%CI 1.21-2.55); and a child who had died (AdjOR 1.45, 95%CI 1.06-2.00). Conclusions: Violence exposes women to poor reproductive health, infant and child mortality and poor infant and child health. Implications: Preventing and reducing violence against women should improve women and children's health outcomes in Timor-Leste.

Description
Citation
Taft, A.J., Powell, R.L., Watson, L.F. (2015) The impact of violence against women on reproductive health and child mortality in Timor-Leste : secondary analysis of 2009-2010 Timor-Leste Demographic Health Survey. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 39(2), pp. 177-181.
Keywords
Ngā upoko tukutuku/Māori subject headings
ANZSRC fields of research
Field of Research::11 - Medical and Health Sciences::1117 - Public Health and Health Services::111715 - Pacific Peoples Health
Fields of Research::32 - Biomedical and clinical sciences::3215 - Reproductive medicine::321503 - Reproduction
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