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Low perceived susceptibility to pregnancy as a reason for contraceptive nonuse among women with unintended births

Author

Listed:
  • Alison Gemmill

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Sarah K. Cowan

    (New York University)

Abstract

Background: While low perceived susceptibility (PS) to pregnancy is a common risk factor for having sex without contraception among women susceptible to unintended pregnancy, little research has examined the correlates of low PS, and none have investigated whether low PS predisposes women to later pregnancy discovery and prenatal care initiation among women with unintended births. Methods: We use data from the 2004‒2011 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System and limit our sample to women in the United States with unintended births who were not using contraception at the time of the index pregnancy (n = 55,940). Women were classified as having low PS if they indicated they could not get pregnant at the time the index pregnancy occurred or they or their partner were sterile. We use logistic regression to identify correlates of low PS and determine whether low PS is associated with timing of pregnancy recognition and prenatal care initiation. Results: Over one-third of women with unintended births cited low PS as a reason for contraceptive nonuse. Maternal age and disadvantage are correlated with low PS. Among women with unintended births, those with low PS had lower odds of early pregnancy recognition (adjOR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.82, 0.94) and prenatal care initiation (adjOR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.79, 0.94) compared to those who did not hold these beliefs. Contribution: Although research remains focused on other barriers to contraceptive use, low perceived susceptibility to pregnancy is critical to understanding the high rates of unintended pregnancies and births in the United States and may affect prenatal health.

Suggested Citation

  • Alison Gemmill & Sarah K. Cowan, 2021. "Low perceived susceptibility to pregnancy as a reason for contraceptive nonuse among women with unintended births," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 44(31), pages 759-774.
  • Handle: RePEc:dem:demres:v:44:y:2021:i:31
    DOI: 10.4054/DemRes.2021.44.31
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Frohwirth, Lori & Moore, Ann M. & Maniaci, Renata, 2013. "Perceptions of susceptibility to pregnancy among U.S. women obtaining abortions," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 18-26.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ester Lazzari & Edith Gray & Bernard Baffour, 2022. "A dyadic approach to the study of perceived subfecundity and contraceptive use," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(1), pages 1-36.

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    1. Ester Lazzari & Edith Gray & Bernard Baffour, 2022. "A dyadic approach to the study of perceived subfecundity and contraceptive use," Demographic Research, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Rostock, Germany, vol. 47(1), pages 1-36.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    pregnancy; risk; contraceptive use; maternal behavior; United States of America; Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • Z0 - Other Special Topics - - General

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