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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Kathryn Edin, PhD¹, Paula England, PhD², Emily Fitzgibbons Shafer², and Joanna Reed³. (1) Department of Sociology, University of Pennsylvania, 243 McNeil Building, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215-898-7800, kedin@sas.upenn.edu, (2) Department of Sociology, Stanford University, Building 120, 450 Serra Mall, Stanford, CA 94305, (3) Department of Sociology, Northwestern University, 1810-1812 Sheridan Rd., Evanston, IL 60208

Background: It is unclear how fertility intentions and contraceptive use may be associated with the nature of romantic relationships. Methods: We collected and analyzed themes from lifetime fertility histories for 69 couples who shared a non-marital birth in 2000, a subsample from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Survey. Results: Roughly one-quarter of couples had pregnancies that were the result of inconsistent contraception. Such couples were often in serious relationships; they used contraception consistently early in their relationship, but let their vigilance lapse when the relationship became more serious. Another one-quarter said their pregnancies were neither planned nor unplanned. These couples were almost always in a serious relationship and wanted children, but were unsure that circumstances were ideal; they often chose not to contracept at all or not consistently. About half of the couples experienced pregnancies in the context of casual relationships and high-risk lifestyles; virtually none used any contraception. Conclusions: Not surprisingly, planned pregnancies were almost always to stable couples, whereas contraceptive failure almost always occurred among those in casual relationships or among couples who had reached their ideal family size. We identified two underlying dimensions in fertility decisions: (1) there is a continuum of intentionality, with many couples in the middle. Those in the middle tend to be in stable relationships; and (2) some couples, especially those in casual relationships, cannot align their behaviors and goals. Our findings indicate that the nature of a romantic relationship may be related to meeting fertility goals and consistent contraceptive use.

Learning Objectives:

• At the Conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to discuss the intersection of pregnancy intention, contraceptive use and relational status.

Keywords: Contraception, Pregnancy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation