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Racial/Ethnic Differences in Relationships Between Pregnancy Intentions and Maternal Outcomes
1Department of Sociology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, 1180 Observatory Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA. nmark3@wisc.edu.
Maternal and Child Health Journal
|July 3, 2024
Summary
Unintended pregnancies are linked to poor maternal health, especially for White and Hispanic mothers. This connection is less clear for Black mothers, indicating racial disparities in pregnancy outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Maternal Health Disparities
- Sociology of Health
Background:
- Unplanned pregnancies are associated with negative maternal health outcomes.
- Existing research has not fully explored these associations across diverse racial and ethnic groups.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between pregnancy intention and maternal well-being across different racial/ethnic groups.
- To determine if the association between unplanned pregnancies and adverse maternal outcomes varies by race/ethnicity.
- To identify potential racial/ethnic disparities in the impact of pregnancy intention on maternal health.
Main Methods:
- Utilized large-scale data to analyze associations between pregnancy intention and maternal well-being.
- Employed a five-level measure of pregnancy intention (intended, mistimed, unwanted, unsure).
- Conducted analyses separately for White, Black, and Hispanic mothers, using unadjusted and inverse propensity weighted models.
Main Results:
- Significant racial/ethnic variations were observed in the relationship between pregnancy intention and maternal outcomes.
- White and Hispanic mothers with mistimed or unwanted pregnancies faced higher risks of adverse outcomes compared to those with intended pregnancies.
- The association between pregnancy intention and adverse outcomes was less pronounced for Black mothers.
- After adjusting for confounding factors, the link between pregnancy intention and adverse outcomes remained substantial for White and Hispanic mothers but not for Black mothers.
Conclusions:
- Pregnancy intention is a significant factor in maternal well-being, but its impact is not uniform across racial/ethnic groups.
- Racial disparities exist in the association between unplanned pregnancies and adverse maternal outcomes, particularly affecting White and Hispanic mothers.
- Further research and tailored interventions are needed to address the nuanced relationship between pregnancy intention and maternal health across diverse populations.
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