Pregnancy Attitudes and Contraceptive use among Young Adults with Histories of Foster Care
Publication Date
11-2018
Document Type
Article
Organizational Units
Graduate School of Social Work
Keywords
Pregnancy attitudes, Contraceptive use, Foster care
Abstract
Introduction
This study examined pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use among young adults with histories of foster care.
Methods
209 female and male young adults, aged 18–22, with histories of foster care were interviewed about their intentions and feelings towards pregnancy. Respondents were then categorized as having pro-pregnancy (i.e., having positive pregnancy intentions and happy feelings about pregnancy), ambivalent (either intentions or happy feelings), or anti-pregnancy (no intentions and unhappy feelings) attitudes. Participants also reported their past-year contraceptive use, and the relationship between pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use was subsequently explored for the overall sample, and by sex and history of pregnancy using Chi-square tests.
Results
Only 13.4% of participants had positive pregnancy intentions, though 41.9% reported that they would feel happy with a pregnancy. Over half (55.9%) of participants were anti-pregnancy, a third (32.8%) were ambivalent and 11.3% were pro-pregnancy. Compared to females, males were more likely to have positive pregnancy intentions (18.6% vs. 7.8%, p = .03) and to be pro-pregnancy (16.5% vs. 5.6%, p = .04). No differences in pregnancy attitudes were found as a function of pregnancy history. Consistent contraceptive use was significantly associated with pregnancy attitudes; 22.2% of pro-pregnancy participants reported consistent contraceptive use versus 52.9% of ambivalent and 62.2% of anti-pregnancy participants.
Discussion
In this exploratory study, few participants held pro-pregnancy attitudes and a high percentage of participants who were anti-pregnancy did not use contraception consistently. Although studies with larger samples examining this topic are needed, professionals should distinguish between young adults' intentions and feelings about pregnancy in an effort to better address contraceptive needs.
Publication Statement
Copyright held by author or publisher. User is responsible for all copyright compliance.
Recommended Citation
Combs, K, M., Brown, S. M., Begun, S., & Taussig, H. (2018). Pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use among young adults with histories of foster care. Children and Youth Services Review, 94, 284-289. DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2018.10.017.