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What is a 'planned' pregnancy? Empirical data from a British study
Geraldine Barrett1, Kaye Wellings
1London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, Health Promotion Research Unit, UK. g.barrett@lshtm.ac.uk
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|August 22, 2002
Summary
Women’s understanding of pregnancy terms like "planned" and "unplanned" varies significantly. Definitions require more than just intent; lifestyle and partner agreement are key for "planned" pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Sociology of Health
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Pregnancy planning terms are frequently used in health policy and research.
- Understanding of these terms by women is crucial for accurate data collection and policy development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore women's understanding and spontaneous use of terms describing pregnancy circumstances.
- To identify the criteria women use when classifying pregnancies as planned or unplanned.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study involving British women discussing pregnancy circumstances.
- Analysis of spontaneous use and explained understanding of terms like 'planned', 'unplanned', 'intended', 'unintended', 'wanted', and 'unwanted'.
Main Results:
- Women rarely used these terms spontaneously when describing pregnancies.
- Significant variation existed in women's understanding and application of the terms.
- 'Planned' required four criteria: intent, stopping contraception, partner agreement, and appropriate life stage.
- 'Unplanned' was broadly applied; 'unwanted' was disliked.
Conclusions:
- Survey questions on pregnancy circumstances should not solely rely on these terms.
- Health policy and clinical settings should use these terms more cautiously.
- Further research may be needed to develop clearer terminology for pregnancy planning.