Perception and Childbirth Decision-Making in Unintended Pregnancy: A Qualitative Study.

Area of Science:

• Sociology
• Public Health
• Midwifery

Background:

• Approximately 121 million unintended pregnancies occur globally each year.
• Unintended pregnancies have profound individual, familial, and societal consequences.
• Informing midwifery practice requires understanding childbirth decision-making factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing childbirth decisions among women with unintended pregnancies.
• To provide insights for enhancing midwifery care and support.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing focus group discussions.
• Thematic analysis guided by the theory of planned behavior.
• Data analyzed using deductive and inductive content analysis.

Main Results:

• Key themes identified: attitudes toward behavior (fertility concepts, policies, role conflicts), subjective norms (social influences), and perceived behavioral control (health, child-rearing, support).
• Women's attitudes, social influences, and perceived control significantly shape their decisions.
• Specific factors include fertility policies, role conflicts, family/friend influence, and concerns about support.

Conclusions:

• Women actively seek informed decisions regarding unintended pregnancies.
• Societal, healthcare provider, and familial support is vital for women's decision-making.
• Healthcare providers play a critical role; further research should integrate supportive strategies into practice.