Negative health outcomes and desire to discuss these experiences within the health care context highlighted a need for patient-provider communication about sexual abuse history as one aspect of gynecologic care. Participants expressed a desire for communication about their sexual abuse experiences however, results indicated women had to navigate stigma within families and communities, which deterred disclosure and open discussion. In addition, limited sexual violence and abuse discussion in health care contexts impacted women's autonomy in reproductive health decision-making despite participants' desire to engage in these discussions with providers. Limited bodily agency impacted women's ability to engage in family planning, particularly when partners utilized sexual coercion to maintain desired relationships and attain desired family size, regardless of women's preferences. HyperRESEARCH 3.7.3 assisted in data organization and management. A constant comparative method of data analysis was completed to explore women's sexual abuse experiences as they related to reproductive health and health care experiences.

As part of a larger study about women's reproductive health, researchers analyzed 16 in-depth interviews with women aged 18 years and older (range = 18-78) living in South Carolina (May-November 2016). The purposes of this article were to understand how women perceived their sexual abuse experiences and how these experiences integrated into their overall reproductive health, reproductive planning, and health care access. A history of sexual abuse may negatively impact health care seeking and experience. Approximately one in three women experience sexual abuse, which can result in negative reproductive health consequences.

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