Background: Gendered health inequities impede women’s reproductive autonomy over the life course. Pregnancy is a critical time point for assessing inequities and partners are integral actors in the achievement or impediment of women’s and children’s health during this time.

Methods: Among a nationally representative cohort of Ethiopian women 5-9 weeks postpartum with data collected from October 2019-September 2020, this study aimed to 1) understand the prevalence and interplay of partner-related autonomy constraints (intimate partner violence, reproductive coercion, lack of encouragement from seeking antenatal care, and lack of encouragement from seeking postnatal care), and 2) examine the impact of autonomy constraints on the maternal and newborn health continuum of care.

Results: Sixty percent of women experienced a partner-related autonomy constraint prior to or during pregnancy. Approximately 20% of women were not encouraged to seek antenatal care and postpartum care, respectively, whereas fewer women experienced intimate partner violence during pregnancy (12.3%) and reproductive coercion (11.0%). Less than one in five women completed the maternal and newborn health continuum of care. Lack of encouragement of antenatal care (aOR = 0.45; p = 0.05) and of postnatal care (aOR = 0.16; p < 0.001) were associated with reductions in completing the continuum.

Conclusions: Partner engagement, interventions, and messaging are critical to enhance maternal and newborn health care-seeking behaviors.