Pregnancy intendedness in Hawaiʻi: findings from the Hawaiʻi pregnancy risk assessment monitoring system, 1999

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between unintended pregnancies and demographic factors in Hawaiʻi, and to investigate the relationship between unintended pregnancies and violence in Hawaiʻi. This study used an observational, cross-sectional probability sample drawn women from June 1999 through December 1999. Women who were selected received Hawaiʻi Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) questionnaires generated from the Hawaiʻi State Department of Health. The main variables from the PRAMS questionnaire investigated in the study were maternal pregnancy intendedness, physical abuse 12 months before pregnancy and physical violence during pregnancy. Controlling variables investigated were maternal age, maternal education, marital status, geographical location, maternal ethnicity, parity status, Quest status, source of prenatal care, and contraceptive use. This dissertation supports the proposed ecological conceptual framework for understanding unintended pregnancies and physical violence during and around the time of pregnancy. Using this model, it could be hypothesized that women with unintended pregnancies tend to live in less stable environments and therefore unintended pregnancies and physical violence could be part of the same social problems. In general, bivariate analysis showed unintended pregnancies were significantly associated with SES factors. However, controlling for all variables in the model, only maternal age, parity status, marital status and contraceptive use were significantly associated with unintended pregnancies. Crude odds ratio showed a significant association between maternal pregnancy intendedness and physical abuse twelve months prior to pregnancy. However, when controlling for all variables in the study model proved to be not significant. A better understanding of unintended pregnancies and physical abuse around the time of pregnancies would help professionals in Hawaiʻi to screen for at risk individuals.