Abstract
Background
Little is known about partner- and relationship-level characteristics that may affect
the timing of pregnancy termination. The present study sought to address this issue
by examining women’s perceptions of social support and relationship-level dynamics
for their association with timing of pregnancy termination.
Methods
Data on partner characteristics and relationship dynamics were collected from 373
women receiving abortions at clinics in two large East Coast cities via a brief, self-administered
survey. These surveys collected information on individual and partner characteristics
as well as perceived emotional, financial, and material support and relationship dynamics.
Results
Forty-six percent of women (mean age, 25 years; 52% African American, 27% Latina,
9% White; 34% currently in school; 37% employed full time) in this study were terminating
a pregnancy at more than 9 weeks’ gestation (mean, 9.6; median, 8; interquartile range,
6–12). On bivariate analysis, we found that women terminating early (<9 weeks) were
more likely to report perceptions of supportive partner interactions and joint decision
making compared with those terminating later. Perceived negative interactions with
partners were associated with later termination. In multivariate analysis, controlling
for sociodemographic characteristics, women who reported delays in pregnancy termination
were also more likely to report a greater degree of perceived negative interactions
in their relationships (adjusted odds ratio, 1.95; 95% confidence interval, 1.19–3.20).
Discussion
These findings suggest that factors influencing a woman’s decision to terminate a
pregnancy are not limited to her own professional or personal goals, but also include
the social and relationship context within which the pregnancy occurs.
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Biography
Farzana Kapadia, PhD, MPH, is an Assistant Professor of Public Health in the Department of Nutrition, Food Studies & Public Health, New York University. She is an epidemiologist whose research examines individual and contextual influences on sexual health.
Biography
Lawrence B. Finer, PhD, is the Director of Domestic Research at the Guttmacher Institute. He is a demographer whose work focuses on contraceptive use, unintended pregnancy and abortion.
Biography
Emily Klukas, MPH, is a recent graduate of the Community Public Health program, New York University. She is currently a capacity building specialist at the Latino Commission on AIDS in New York City.
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 7,
2011
Received in revised form:
January 7,
2011
Received:
October 25,
2010
Footnotes
Supported by the Charlotte Ellertson Social Science Postdoctoral Fellowship in Abortion and Reproductive Health.
Identification
Copyright
© 2011 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
