The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50240

Helen P. Koo, DrPH and Ellen K. Wilson, MPH, MIA. Health, Social and Economics Research, RTI International, 3040 Cornwallis Rd., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709

The U.S. rate of unintended pregnancy remains surprisingly high despite the availability of highly effective means of birth control. Understanding the context of women’s lives, including their relationships, is critical to understanding their motivation and ability to avoid unintended or subintended pregnancy. This paper is based on findings of an integrated qualitative-quantitative study on unintended pregnancy conducted as the third follow-up survey of the Longitudinal Study of Contraceptive Choice and Use Dynamics. Participants in the study are African-American and white low-income women recruited during the baseline survey from family planning and post-partum clinics in two cities in Southeastern U.S. Some 1363 or 91% of eligible women completed telephone interviews in the third follow-up survey. The paper explores the ways in which partner characteristics; partner attitudes toward pregnancy; level of communication, commitment, and satisfaction in the relationship; expectations of partner’s economic and emotional support; and expectations of continuing relationships with partner’s relatives affect both women’s motivation to become pregnant or avoid pregnancy and the incidence of unintended pregnancy. Findings from the qualitative component suggest that women who are in relationships that are stable, serious or satisfying; couples who have not explicitly discussed their intentions or plans for childbearing; and women who believe their partners would be good fathers may be less motivated to contracept accurately and consistently and more likely to experience a subintended or unintended pregnancy. This paper presents findings from the survey, testing these and other hypotheses. It also draws on the qualitative data to help explain findings.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Identify partner and relationship characteristics that affect risk of unintended pregnancy.
• Assess women’s risk for unintended pregnancy in the broader context of their lives.
• Help women clarify their pregnancy intentions by addressing their unspoken expectations.

Keywords: Family Planning,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.