The Local Construction of Unintended Pregnancy among Pregnant and Contracepting Women in New Orleans

Carl Kendall, Tulane University
Aimee Afable, Tulane University
Ilene S. Speizer, Tulane University
Alexis Avery, Tulane University
Norine Schmidt, Tulane University

Unintended pregnancy has been conventionally defined as pregnancies that are mistimed and unwanted. While this classification has been widely used in survey research, this study explores the utility of these constructs for women themselves. It employs a semi-structured open-ended research guide to explore sexual debut and history, contraceptive knowledge and use, pregnancy history, partner relations and service use. A total of 77 women were recruited from 2 New Orleans inner-city clinics. Findings suggest a pattern of inadequate contraceptive use prior to first pregnancy, few family or social barriers to teen pregnancy, and limited partner involvement in decision-making. Few women believe in the efficacy of available contraceptive methods and worry about long duration of use. Service barriers to effective contraception abound as well. These factors permit a wide discrepancy between the expressed ideal timing of childbearing and women's lived experience. They demonstrate the need for comprehensive sexuality education in this population.