Objectives
The purpose of this survey is to explore the factors that contribute to unintended pregnancy for clients in the Maine Family Planning System. Factors being examined were: access, misinformation, financial, coercion, client ambivalence and/or substance use.
Methodology
Questionnaires were distributed among the 33 clinics receiving Family Planning Title X funding in Maine. Women who came into one of these clinics over the past year and a half who tested positive for pregnancy and who indicated that this pregnancy was unintended were asked to participate in the survey. The interview was done by same counselor who completed the pregnancy test. Frequency distributions were run on all of the variables in order to achieve descriptive information. Cross tabulations were performed in order to explore whether responses varied depending upon client’s age, region of the state, and client status, and marital status.
Results
The 487 women who responded to this questionnaire are young -- 79% under 25 years of age, and over half are unmarried and not living with a partner (58%). Sixty-nine percent of the 487 women who responded to the questionnaire were inconsistently or using no method at the time of the unintended pregnancy.
Conclusions
The one factor out of those being examined that appears to have influenced this sample of women is client ambivalence. Very few clients indicated that their reasons for not using a consistent method had to do with the other factors being examined.
Learning Objectives: Identify 2 factors contributing to unintended pregnancy among family plannning clients. Recognize the role ambivalence played in unintended pregnancy. Identify service delivery responses to client behavior
Keywords: Family Planning, Pregnancy
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.