Pregnancy intention and pregnancy happiness: are they different?
OBJECTIVE
This study examines the relationship among pregnancy intention and attitudes, inconsistent contraceptive use, and plans for potential pregnancy among 311 women who presented at local health departments to seek a pregnancy test and for whom a pregnancy would be unintended.


METHODS
Women were surveyed prior to receiving pregnancy tests. Pregnancy intention was measured using traditional classifications of mistimed and unwanted pregnancies. Frequency distributions and chi-square tests were computed to examine and compare rates of happiness about the pregnancy among women with mistimed or unwanted pregnancy and to compare rates of inconsistent contraceptive use and plans for the pregnancy by intention and level of happiness.


RESULTS
Although all of the women selected for our sample stated that their pregnancies would be unintended, almost half (46%) were inconsistent contraceptive users. Further, 48% reported that they would be somewhat or very happy about a pregnancy. The proportion of women who were uncertain about the future of a pregnancy and who considered adoption or abortion was highest among those for whom a potential pregnancy was mistimed and who were unhappy about the pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Differentiating between pregnancy intention and happiness has practice implications for family planning and prenatal providers. Additional research should further elaborate these distinctions.
Sable
M R
MR
School of Social Work, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211-4470, USA. SableM@missouri.edu
Libbus
M K
MK
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000293:Adolescent; D000300:Adoption; D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D003270:Contraceptive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003625:Data Collection; D004493:Education; D005260:Female; D006240:Happiness; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017533:Marital Status; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000523:psychology*; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D011275:Pregnancy, Unwanted / Q000523:psychology*; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population
D003270:Contraceptive Agents