title: Parents' experience of unintended childbearing: A qualitative study of factors that mitigate or exacerbate effects.
abstract: Births resulting from an unintended pregnancy affect individuals differentially, and some may experience more negative consequences than others. In this study, we sought to describe the mechanisms through which the severity of effects may be mitigated or exacerbated. We conducted in-depth interviews with 35 women and 30 men, all with a youngest child born resulting from an unintended pregnancy, in two urban sites in the United States. Respondents described both negative and positive effects of the child's birth in the areas of school; work and finances; partner relationships; personal health and outlook on life trajectories. Mechanisms through which unintended pregnancies mitigated or exacerbated certain effects fell at the individual (e.g. lifestyle modification), interpersonal (e.g. partner support) and structural (e.g. workplace flexibility) levels. These qualitative findings deepen understanding of the impact of unintended childbearing on the lives of women, men and families.
authors.affiliation: Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York 10038, NY, USA. Electronic address: mkavanaugh@guttmacher.org.
authors.forename: Megan L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Kavanaugh
authors.affiliation: Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York 10038, NY, USA. Electronic address: kkost@guttmacher.org.
authors.forename: Kathryn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kost
authors.affiliation: Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York 10038, NY, USA. Electronic address: lfrohwirth@guttmacher.org.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Frohwirth
authors.affiliation: Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York 10038, NY, USA. Electronic address: imaddowzimet@guttmacher.org.
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Maddow-Zimet
authors.affiliation: Guttmacher Institute, 125 Maiden Lane, 7th Floor, New York 10038, NY, USA. Electronic address: vivian.gor@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D049168:Pregnancy, Unplanned / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: Childbearing; Parenting; Pregnancy intentions; Qualitative research; Unintended pregnancy; United States