A long-term study among women seeking abortion in the U.S. showed that 8% of women sought an abortion because they had abusive partners. New research from this UCSF Bixby Center team shows that, compared to women who were able to end an unwanted pregnancy, those who could not access abortion care and ultimately gave birth were more likely to remain in physically abusive relationships over the next two and half years. Physical abuse included being pushed, hit, slapped, kicked, or choked. They concluded that “having a baby with an abusive man, compared to terminating the unwanted pregnancy, makes it harder to leave the abusive relationship.”

Read more in Salon.com.