The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of unplanned pregnancy and pregnancy feelings with histories of current or past physical or sexual violence. Data were from a chart review of 746 low-income clients of an urban prenatal clinic. All clients who reported a history of violence were selected for review and matched with non-abused clients. Covariates in logistic regression analyses were maternal demographics, prenatal care timing, and prenatal substance use. Forty-seven percent of the subjects were nulliparous, 48% white, and 48% adolescent. Eighty-six percent reported unplanned pregnancies; 33% reported feeling ambivalent and 5% reported feeling negative about their pregnancies. Fifty-one percent reported no history of any violence, 8% reported current physical or sexual violence, 23% reported a history of physical violence only, 9% a history of sexual violence only, and 9% a history of physical and sexual violence. Pregnancy planning was not associated with current or past violence. However, in multivariate analyses, those who reported violence were 1.5 times more likely to report negative/ambivalent pregnancy feelings compared to those with no such reports (95% CI: 1.1, 2.1). Those with a history of past violence were 1.7 times more likely to report negative pregnancy feelings (95% CI: 1.2, 2.4) than those with no violence histories. Contrary to the primary study hypothesis, pregnancy planning was not associated with violence history, although the data suggest that past histories of violence could inform future pregnancy feelings.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the presentation, the participant will be able to: 1. Identify correlates of unplanned pregnancies. 2. Describe methods for meaningfully categorizing reports of past and current violence. 3. Discuss the potential magnitude of histories of violence in prenatal care populations.
Keywords: Family Planning, Family Violence
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
Disclosure not received
Relationship: Not Received.