Pregnant women's perspectives on intendedness of pregnancy

被引:79
作者
Moos, MK [1 ]
Petersen, R
Meadows, K
Melvin, CL
Spitz, AM
机构
[1] Univ N Carolina, Sch Med, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 USA
[2] Univ N Carolina, Sch Publ Hlth, Dept Maternal & Child Hlth, Chapel Hill, NC USA
[3] Ctr Dis Control & Prevent, Div Reprod Hlth, Natl Ctr Chron Dis Prevent & Hlth Premot, Atlanta, GA USA
关键词
D O I
10.1016/S1049-3867(97)00081-9
中图分类号
R1 [预防医学、卫生学];
学科分类号
1004 ; 120402 ;
摘要
This study examined whether intendedness is a valued characteristic of pregnancy and what factors influence women to risk unintended (unwanted or mistimed) pregnancy. Study participants were 24-34 weeks pregnant, White or Black, aged 18-30, and receiving prenatal care from a publicly funded clinic in North Carolina. Information gathered from 8 focus group sessions (14-15 participants each) revealed that: 1) the concept of a planned pregnancy had no meaning to many of the women; 2) religious beliefs helped people accept unintended pregnancy; 3) planning for pregnancy is a stressful concept because of potential disappointment; 4) unprotected intercourse without pregnancy leads to assumptions of infertility; 5) attitudes of male partners, friends, and family members influence women to risk pregnancy; 6) women adapt to unintended pregnancy very readily; 7) there are no uniform situational risks for unintended pregnancy; and 8) unintended pregnancies are more advantageous than not for some women. These results question the assumption that intendedness of pregnancy is preferred among low-income women or that the pregnancies are "subintended." While interventions to increase intendedness focus on access to contraception, study participants reported no barriers to access as a reason for conception. Health educators should consider the ramifications of teaching that pregnancy can result from a single act of unprotected intercourse without also teaching that pregnancy can occur after several acts of unprotected intercourse. These findings suggest hypotheses that should be explored with further research.
引用
收藏
页码:385 / 392
页数:8
相关论文
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