Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) A Practice Exam

What is the definition of reproductive coercion?

1. Encouragement for planned parenthood

2. Behavior used to maintain power and control in a relationship.

3. A supportive method of family planning.

4. Egalitarian distribution of household tasks.

The correct answer is: Behavior used to maintain power and control in a relationship.

Reproductive coercion refers to behaviors aimed at controlling a person's reproductive choices, often within an intimate relationship. This definition aligns with the understanding that reproductive coercion involves manipulative or coercive tactics used to exert power and control over an individual’s reproductive health and decisions. This can include actions such as sabotage of contraception, pressure to become pregnant, or threats regarding the consequences of not complying with a partner’s wishes. In the context of the options provided, this choice highlights the central theme of power dynamics and autonomy in relationships. It emphasizes how reproductive coercion is a violation of rights and can have significant emotional and physical health impacts on the affected person. Understanding this concept is crucial for healthcare providers, as it informs the support they can offer to individuals who may be experiencing such coercion, ensuring they recognize and address it in practice. The other options either misrepresent the concept or focus on supportive or egalitarian aspects of relationships, which do not pertain to the coercive elements at play in reproductive coercion.