Abstract
Background
Unintended births are especially frequent among minority women. Predictors of unintended
births among adult Mexican women living in the United States are poorly characterized.
Methods
Data are from vital statistics and the 2005 Los Angeles Mommy and Baby (LAMB) survey,
a population-based study of women delivering a live birth in Los Angeles County, California
(n = 1,214). Multivariable logistic regression assessed the relation of unintended
birth with acculturation variables adjusting for background and psychosocial characteristics.
Multinomial models assessed these relations for women with an unintended birth who
did and did not use contraception.
Findings
Forty-one percent of women reported an unintended birth. Being a long-term immigrant
and U.S.-born were positively associated with unintended birth compared with shorter
term immigrants, but the adjusted relation was significant only for U.S.-born women
(odds ratio [OR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.19–3.39). Women reporting an unintended birth were
younger, unmarried, and higher parity. If using contraception, the odds of unintended
birth were increased for cohabiting women, those with high education, and those with
greater stress during pregnancy. When not using contraception and reporting an unintended
birth, women also have no usual place for health care, have depressive symptoms during
pregnancy, and are dissatisfied with partner support.
Conclusions
Women's background and psychosocial characteristics were central to explaining unintended
birth among immigrant women but less so for U.S.-born Mexican mothers. Interventions
to improve birth intentions should not only target effective contraception, but also
important social determinants.
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Biography
Karen M. Coller, PhD, MPH, completed her doctoral dissertation at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health and is presently Assistant Research Scientist at UCLA. Her current research addresses sexual engagement, pregnancy intentions and disparities in reproductive health.
Biography
Shin M. Chao, PhD, is Chief of Research, Evaluation and Planning at County Los Angeles Department of Public Health. Her interests include population-based survey methodology, assessment and evaluation activities.
Biography
Michael C. Lu, MD, MS, MPH, contributed while Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Public Health at UCLA. He is currently Associate Administrator at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). His research focuses on racial-ethnic disparities in birth outcomes.
Biography
Donna Strobino, PhD, is Professor in the Department of Population, Family & Reproductive Health at Johns Hopkins School of Public Health. Her research focuses on pregnancy outcomes and the role of social and biologic factors in maternal and child health.
Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 14, 2014
Accepted:
March 17,
2014
Received in revised form:
March 12,
2014
Received:
December 21,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2014 Jacobs Institute of Women's Health. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
