Covert contraceptive use and one-year trajectories of reproductive coercion and intimate partner violence in Kenya: a nationally representative cohort study

This study investigates whether covert contraceptive use—using contraception without a male partner's knowledge—affects women's risk of reproductive coercion (RC) and intimate partner violence (IPV) over one year in Kenya. The findings indicate that while women who covertly used contraception faced higher violence risks, they also experienced greater reductions in RC compared to overt users and non-users, suggesting that covert use does not increase abuse risk. The authors recommend further research on the dynamics of covert use and violence, emphasizing the need for family planning services to support women's autonomy and safety.