Examining organizational supports within domestic violence programs that support or hinder responses to reproductive coercion

Reproductive coercion (RC) is a newly identified but commonly experienced form of domestic violence (DV) with serious potential consequences for women's health and well-being. Despite the high prevalence of RC against DV survivors, initial reports suggest that few DV advocates regularly engage in RC-related practices with their clients. In order to better understand the factors that may be impeding advocates' RC-responsiveness, the study examined data collected via a brief online survey of more than 300 domestic violence advocates across the U.S. and its territories. Results identified critical barriers and facilitators to RC-responsive practice in DV organizations on the intrapersonal and organizational ecological levels. While intrapersonal factors (levels of comfort discussing sexuality and comfort discussing reproductive health) influenced advocates' frequency of universal and targeted RC practice, the level of RC-responsive supports provided by advocates' organizations was much more impactful. In addition to supporting the assertion that intervention on multiple ecological levels has the greatest potential for successful change in professionals' behavior, the study's results also provide initial insight into a minimum level of organizational supports that may be necessary to promote more frequent RC-responsive practice in DV organizations. This guidance may prove useful for agencies aiming to improve their RC-responsiveness; by focusing on those factors, DV programs and their staff will ultimately be better prepared and better able to support survivors of RC in regaining their reproductive control.