Prevalence and correlates of ambivalence towards pregnancy among nonpregnant women.
BACKGROUND
Ambivalence towards pregnancy is rarely acknowledged in policy discussions.


METHODS
We surveyed 441 nonpregnant women who consecutively presented to two urgent care clinics in California about their current intentions to conceive using a five-point scale. We examined the association between ambivalence towards pregnancy, sociodemographic characteristics and use of contraception.


RESULTS
Almost one third of women (29.0%; 95% CI=25-33%) expressed ambivalence about their intentions to become pregnant. In multivariable modeling, being older than 30, being nonwhite and having a personal or religious objection to abortion were significantly associated with ambivalence towards pregnancy. Compared with women who stated they were trying to avoid pregnancy, women who expressed ambivalence were significantly less likely to have used a barrier or hormonal form of contraception at last intercourse (OR=0.36, 95% CI=0.23-0.57) and more likely to use the natural family planning (NFP) method (OR=3.31, 95% CI=1.39-7.90) or withdrawal (OR=1.61, 95% CI=0.98-2.65).


CONCLUSIONS
Ambivalence towards pregnancy is common and is associated with use of less effective contraceptive methods.
Schwarz
Eleanor Bimla
EB
Center for Research on Health Care, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Women's Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. schwarzeb@upmc.edu
Lohr
Patricia A
PA
Gold
Melanie A
MA
Gerbert
Barbara
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003270:Contraceptive Agents; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D043762:Reproductive Behavior / Q000523:psychology*
D003270:Contraceptive Agents