Measuring Prospective Childbearing Intentions at Title X clinics

Goal: Child Trends is working with OPA to develop a measure of prospective pregnancy/childbearing intentions to be included in their Family Planning Annual Report (FPAR). This project has three stages: 1) scan of existing prospective measures; 2) key informant interviews with Title X-supported family planning providers; and 3) cognitive interviews with family planning clients. For this conference, we focus on findings from stage 2.

Method: We are conducting 100 semi-structured interviews with family planning service providers at Title X supported service sites. Our sample includes a range of providers (PP, health departments, etc.) in all 10 regions of the U.S. who serve clients in rural and urban areas and who collect any information about women’s prospective pregnancy intentions. Phone interviews, lasting roughly 45 minutes, asks providers: if they collect information on women’s prospective pregnancy intentions, who collects this information, when it is collected, how they are asked, how it is recorded (including in an EHR), and what implication it has for subsequent birth control counseling and prescription. Currently, we have completed two-thirds of the interviews, with the remaining to be completed by the end of March.

Results: Many clinics do ask about prospective intentions, though how and how this information is used varies – by provider types, location, and clients served. Analyses of the results will be complete by April, and will be used to inform the development of a standard (prospective) measure of pregnancy intention that health Title X supported family planning  providers can use.