Abstract
BackgroundUnintended pregnancies are associated with poorer obstetric outcomes and are sometimes measured at a population level as a surrogate marker for reproductive autonomy and access to health services, including contraception. Aboriginal Australians face many disparities in health outcomes, including in reproductive health and antenatal care. We aimed to explore the formation and expression of pregnancy intentions in an Aboriginal population to inform health service improvements.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 27 remote-dwelling Aboriginal women, aged 18–49 years. Content analysis was conducted; key themes were discussed with groups of women from participating communities to refine interpretation.ResultsMost (19/27) participants expressed pregnancy intentions congruent with reported contraceptive behaviour while eight expressed ambivalent or uncertain intentions. Intentions were shaped by traditional kinship practices, reproductive autonomy and desired family formation. Younger women tended to aspire to smaller family sizes than older women and support was expressed for the postponement of first pregnancy to achieve other life goals. Women in these communities hold strong traditional beliefs, including regarding conception, but did not use traditional methods of contraception in place of modern methods. Reproductive coercion, in the form of pressure to fall pregnant, was recognised as an important issue by women in the community.ConclusionConsultation strategies that promote rapport, allow space for uncertainty and are inclusive of important personal and cultural contexts are likely to improve shared understanding of pregnancy intention. Universal screening for reproductive coercion and broad counselling on contraceptive options (including discrete methods) may reduce unmet need for contraception. Community approaches supporting reproductive autonomy that is inclusive of men, and enhanced educational and occupational opportunities for young women are needed.
Highlights
Unintended pregnancies are associated with poorer obstetric outcomes and are sometimes measured at a population level as a surrogate marker for reproductive autonomy and access to health services, including contraception
Pregnancy intention and associated actions may be shaped by factors such as the degree of female reproductive autonomy, socioeconomic status, pro-natalist norms and attitudes and values towards available contraceptive options [8]
In this article we present a further exploration of the formation of pregnancy intention through analysis of semistructured interviews with Aboriginal women residing in participating Western Desert communities
Summary
Unintended pregnancies are associated with poorer obstetric outcomes and are sometimes measured at a population level as a surrogate marker for reproductive autonomy and access to health services, including contraception. The rate of unintended pregnancy is sometimes used as a surrogate marker for women’s reproductive autonomy and access to health services [4]. Assessment of pregnancy intention is important for the provision of appropriate contraceptive services and timely preconception care. For these reasons pregnancy intentions and the association of intention with relevant actions (such as contraceptive use, adoption of healthy pre-conception behaviours and early access to antenatal care) are concepts fundamental to the understanding of reproductive health issues and the provision of quality care. Traditional theories of reasoned action have been challenged in this space [9], highlighting the need for individual consideration of planning, intention, desire and action when discussing pregnancy intention
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