title: Public perceptions about unplanned pregnancy.
abstract: A nationally representative telephone survey in 1994 of 2,002 adults indicates that 60% believe that unplanned pregnancy is a very big problem in the United States, and virtually all (90%) say it is at least a somewhat big problem. Two-thirds mistakenly believe that a larger percentage of women have unplanned pregnancies now than 10 years ago. A decline in moral standards is cited by 89% of respondents as contributing very much or somewhat to the problem. Lack of education is mentioned as a significant factor by 87%, and 88% see any of three barriers to contraceptive use--knowledge about use, access or cost--as being important factors. Never-married women with children, women in general, low-income respondents, Hispanics and those aged 65 or older are the most likely to believe that barriers to contraceptive access contribute very much to unplanned pregnancy; they are especially likely to cite cost or an inability to obtain contraceptives.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mauldon
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delbanco
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009014:Morals; D011247:Pregnancy; D011639:Public Opinion; D012940:Social Problems; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States