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The Measurement and Meaning of Unintended Pregnancy
Author(s) -
Santelli John,
Rochat Roger,
HatfieldTimajchy Kendra,
Gilbert Brenda Colley,
Curtis Kathryn,
Cabral Rebecca,
Hirsch Jennifer S.,
Schieve Laura
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
perspectives on sexual and reproductive health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.818
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1931-2393
pISSN - 1538-6341
DOI - 10.1363/3509403
Subject(s) - unintended pregnancy , meaning (existential) , pregnancy , unintended consequences , psychology , obstetrics , medicine , epistemology , philosophy , research methodology , family planning , environmental health , population , biology , genetics
Unintended pregnancy combines two aspects of fertility: unwanted and mistimed pregnancies. The personal partnership social and political realities of these two aspects are different and the use of separate categories may better reflect the way women think about a pregnancy. A better understanding of the multiple dimensions of unintended pregnancy also may lead to a better understanding of the consequences of these pregnancies. Likewise better knowledge of the extent of mistiming and perhaps the strength of intentions may be important in understanding health impact. Effective programs to prevent unintended pregnancy must use terms that are familiar to women and must build upon cultural understanding of the problem to be prevented. Research should focus on the meaning of pregnancy intentions to women and the processes women and their partners use in making fertility decisions. It should prospectively address the impact of pregnancy intentions on contraceptive use. Both qualitative and quantitative research have contributed to our understanding of fertility decisionmaking; both will be essential to the creation of more effective prevention programs. (excerpt)