MEDIA RELEASE
28 April 2026
MIDWIVES CRUCIAL TO DETECTING REPRODUCTIVE COERCION – INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE MIDWIFE
During International Day of the Midwife on 5 May, Engender Equality reflects on the critical role of midwives and other women’s health care providers in identifying women experiencing reproductive control and coercion.
Engender Equality CEO, Alina Thomas said,
“Reproductive control or coercion may take the form of contraception sabotage and/or pressure to either carry a pregnancy to term or to have a termination.
“Midwives and other health professionals are in the position to assist women in identifying and naming these coercive behaviours and help them regaining autonomy and control over their reproductive health.
“Any behaviour that interferes with a person’s reproductive autonomy is both a form of interpersonal abuse and sexual violence.
“Governmental policies and systems that influence or restrict reproductive choices, including those which limit access to terminations, are also a form of abuse and create a climate where reproductive coercion can flourish.
Reproductive coercion can include forcing or pressuring someone to become pregnant or to terminate a pregnancy or preventing someone from accessing contraception. Doing things to stop contraception from working such as ‘stealthing’, the act of removing a condom during sex, or forcing or pressuring someone to undergo sterilisation are also prevalent. Some partners using violence prevent their partners from accessing reproductive health care, including screening tests for sexually transmitted infections and cervical cancer (pap smears).
Jess Drew, Manager, Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Pilot said,
“Our Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence (PCFSV) Support team is working with general practices, family planning clinics and Women’s Health Tasmania throughout Tasmania to support their work with victim-survivors.”
“A patient appearing isolated from other family members and friends or who seems reluctant or regretful about their reproductive health choices, including past pregnancies or terminations may also indicate reproductive coercion.
“If a patient appears intimidated by, or afraid of their partner, the patient’s partner speaks for the patient, makes decisions on their behalf, or is otherwise controlling, this would be a red flag.
“The patient’s partner may insist on attending routine medical appointments, including consultations on contraception and reproductive health to exert control.
“Practices such as screening for reproductive coercion with the partner out of the room and having clinic protocols in place that provide private examinations for women, without incident or arousing concern, are important.
“We ask practitioners to treat reproductive coercion with the same gravity and sensitivity you would other forms of intimate partner, sexual or family violence.
Ends.
Media Contact: Alina Thomas 0438 788 291
Additional Information
This Primary Care Family and Sexual Violence Support Pilot is funded by Primary Health Tasmania (Tasmania PHN), through the Australian Government’s Primary Health Networks Program. Engender Equality is a not-for-profit agency leading the program in partnership with Laurel House.
More information including how General Practices and Aboriginal Health Services can connect with the service is available at 03 6268 1663, admin@pcfsv.org.au or https://engenderequality.org.au/pcfsv/.