Disparities in Rates of Unintended Pregnancy In the United States, 1994 and 2001

Abstract

More research is needed to determine the factors underlying the disparities in unintended pregnancy rates by income and other characteristics. The findings may reflect a need for increased and more effective contraceptive use, particularly among high-risk groups.

Age, relationship status, and the planning status of births

“…Births to women in their late twenties and thirties are more likely to be planned than births to teenagers and women in their early twenties (Henshaw 1998;Finer and Henshaw 2006). In addition, unplanned birth rates are lower for partnered women -especially married women -than for women not in co-residential relationships (Chandra et al 2005;Finer and Henshaw 2006).…”

“…These patterns suggest that recent births would be relatively likely to be planned given the traditional association between age and planning status. However, the proportion of births that were unplanned appears to have stagnated in the 1990s (Finer and Henshaw 2006). This plateau may be related to another, perhaps more dramatic, change among mothers: they are increasingly likely to be unmarried at birth.…”

“…In order to reduce unplanned fertility, it is vital to understand the context in which unplanned births occur. Although there is a large literature examining those who have unplanned births (e.g., Henshaw 1998;Musick 2002Musick , 2007Finer and Henshaw 2006), much of this research fails to consider how unplanned fertility varies across the social contexts of age, union status, parity, and race-ethnicity. Instead, these characteristics are often studied by themselves or only subgroups are studied.…”

“…Instead, these characteristics are often studied by themselves or only subgroups are studied. For instance, Musick's (2002Musick's ( , 2007 work focuses on fertility in nonmarital and cohabiting unions, excluding unplanned fertility occurring within a marriage, while Henshaw and Finer's (Henshaw 1998;Finer and Henshaw 2006) work is largely descriptive with little multivariate analysis. There remains a need to understand the complexity and variability of unplanned fertility across the life course and across socio-demographic characteristics.…”

“…In this analysis, we use data from the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth to assess socio-demographic variation in the likelihood that recent births in the United States were planned. We focus on age and relationship context as the primary independent variables because past research shows these variables to be the central stratifying factors in the planning status of births (e.g., Chandra et al 2005;Finer and Henshaw 2006), and because age and partnership are key factors in determining the normative context for childbearing. In addition, we consider the role of parity, distinguishing between first, second, and higher-order births.…”