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Not black and white: young people’s perspectives on planned and unplanned pregnancies, and what lies between
Abstracts / Contraception 96 (2017) 263–306
conceptualizing and measuring unintended pregnancy, as well as further work to understand the interplay between personal expectations regarding pregnancy resolution and support for policies restricting abortion access. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.135
P106 Not black and white: young people’s perspectives on planned and unplanned pregnancies, and what lies between S Arteaga Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
299
Results: Parents and those with previous pregnancy experience were more likely to view a hypothetical pregnancy positively. In exploratory factor analysis, women and men had similar views of pregnancy. Lack of differentiation in the prospective question indicated difficulty in predicting and discriminating among feelings about a hypothetical pregnancy. However, when describing an actual pregnancy retrospectively, multidimensionality incorporating both planning status and affect emerged. Conclusions: Semantic differential analysis illuminates difficulties inherent in pregnancy intention measurement. While retrospective measurement is sometimes considered biased, prospective measurement also may be difficult owing to reliance on hypothetical questions with low salience and predictive power for individuals’ actual behaviors and experiences. Results reinforce the necessity of multidimensional and multitemporal measurement. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.137
L Caton, A Manchikanti Gomez
P108 Objectives: Researchers have long recognized that binary categorization of pregnancies as planned or unplanned may be subject to measurement error, as pregnancy planning may not be a salient construct for some and planned and unplanned have different meanings for different people. In this analysis, we explore the ways young people conceptualize pregnancy planning. Methods: Individual qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 young (aged 18–24) women and their male partners (n=100) to investigate prospective pregnancy intentions. Participants were asked to explain their understanding of terminology such as planned and unplanned pregnancy. Results: A majority of participants felt that pregnancy planning was not “black and white” but rather multifaceted and that there was something in between planned and unplanned pregnancies. Many participants equated this in-between status to “not not trying” — not actively trying to get pregnant or avoiding pregnancy. For some, the notion of in-between status was context dependent; participants felt that an in-between pregnancy could occur if one felt “okay” with becoming unexpectedly pregnant owing to relationship or structural factors. Notably, some participants described pregnancy planning as impossible either because they had not witnessed peers engaging in such behavior or because they felt a lack of control over becoming pregnant. Conclusions: Our data suggest that typical pregnancy planning nomenclature may not resonate with young people’s experiences and expectations. Current binary approaches to measuring pregnancy plans and intentions fail to capture important statuses (such as the gray area between planned and unplanned) and may misclassify individuals when their responses are reflective not of their own desires but the perceived impossibility of pregnancy planning. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.136
P107 A semantic differential analysis of prospective feelings about pregnancy and retrospective characterization of pregnancy J Arcara Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA S Arteaga, A Manchikanti Gomez Objectives: This study’s objective was to explore young Latinos’ prospective and retrospective feelings about and descriptions of pregnancy. To do so, we used semantic differential analysis, an approach for quantifying connotative meaning of words or phrases. Methods: We conducted a survey of 600 Latina/o women and men aged 18–29 that included two semantic differentials. First, participants were asked a hypothetical question about pregnancy: “If I found out I/a partner was pregnant today, I would feel….” Second, those reporting a previous pregnancy were asked: “The last time I was/got a partner pregnant, the pregnancy was….” For each question, participants received a list of word/phrase pairs with roughly opposite meanings (e.g., upset– happy) to finish the statement. For each pair, they selected the point closest to their feelings in relation to the question prompt on a five-point, bidirectional scale.
Best practices for LGBTQ inclusion and exclusion in reproductive health research N Ingraham Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA E Wingo, DG Foster, S Roberts Objectives: Strategies are needed to improve reproductive health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. Researchers are therefore beginning to include LGBTQ individuals in research about abortion, contraception and unintended pregnancy. Little guidance for how to do so in an effective and culturally appropriate manner exists. This study tested existing sexual orientation and gender identity and reproductive health measures among LGBTQ individuals and assessed participant descriptions of LGBTQ reproductive health research needs. Methods: Cognitive interviews with 39 LGBTQ people assigned female at birth (aged 18–44) were conducted from December 2016 to March 2017 after obtaining IRB approval. Interviews were analyzed using thematic and cognitive interview analysis. Data were collected primarily in the Bay Area and Baltimore; 11 participants were from other areas of the United States. Results: Participants responded well to recommended sexual orientation and gender identity measures: a two-step method for sex assigned at birth and gender identity and two of three sexual orientation factors (identity and behavior). Participants felt validated by expanded gender identity options and reproductive health items that used gender-neutral terminology. Participants advocated for research on barriers to reproductive health care for this population, and reproductive health impacts of transition-related care, such as effects on fertility. Conclusions: Cognitive testing indicates that there are relatively simple ways to make existing reproductive health surveys inclusive of and appropriate for LGBTQ individuals; however, to meet the reproductive health needs of LGBTQ individuals, researchers may need to add questions that go beyond abortion and contraception. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.138
P109 Exploring family planning goals and counseling desires of women experiencing miscarriage: a qualitative study R Flink-Bochacki University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA ME Hamm, S Borrero, BA Chen, SL Achilles, JC Chang Objectives: Nearly 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended; 8%–20% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. We explored pregnancy intendedness and future family planning goals of women experiencing spontaneous abortion.
conceptualizing and measuring unintended pregnancy, as well as further work to understand the interplay between personal expectations regarding pregnancy resolution and support for policies restricting abortion access. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.135
P106 Not black and white: young people’s perspectives on planned and unplanned pregnancies, and what lies between S Arteaga Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
299
Results: Parents and those with previous pregnancy experience were more likely to view a hypothetical pregnancy positively. In exploratory factor analysis, women and men had similar views of pregnancy. Lack of differentiation in the prospective question indicated difficulty in predicting and discriminating among feelings about a hypothetical pregnancy. However, when describing an actual pregnancy retrospectively, multidimensionality incorporating both planning status and affect emerged. Conclusions: Semantic differential analysis illuminates difficulties inherent in pregnancy intention measurement. While retrospective measurement is sometimes considered biased, prospective measurement also may be difficult owing to reliance on hypothetical questions with low salience and predictive power for individuals’ actual behaviors and experiences. Results reinforce the necessity of multidimensional and multitemporal measurement. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.137
L Caton, A Manchikanti Gomez
P108 Objectives: Researchers have long recognized that binary categorization of pregnancies as planned or unplanned may be subject to measurement error, as pregnancy planning may not be a salient construct for some and planned and unplanned have different meanings for different people. In this analysis, we explore the ways young people conceptualize pregnancy planning. Methods: Individual qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 young (aged 18–24) women and their male partners (n=100) to investigate prospective pregnancy intentions. Participants were asked to explain their understanding of terminology such as planned and unplanned pregnancy. Results: A majority of participants felt that pregnancy planning was not “black and white” but rather multifaceted and that there was something in between planned and unplanned pregnancies. Many participants equated this in-between status to “not not trying” — not actively trying to get pregnant or avoiding pregnancy. For some, the notion of in-between status was context dependent; participants felt that an in-between pregnancy could occur if one felt “okay” with becoming unexpectedly pregnant owing to relationship or structural factors. Notably, some participants described pregnancy planning as impossible either because they had not witnessed peers engaging in such behavior or because they felt a lack of control over becoming pregnant. Conclusions: Our data suggest that typical pregnancy planning nomenclature may not resonate with young people’s experiences and expectations. Current binary approaches to measuring pregnancy plans and intentions fail to capture important statuses (such as the gray area between planned and unplanned) and may misclassify individuals when their responses are reflective not of their own desires but the perceived impossibility of pregnancy planning. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.136
P107 A semantic differential analysis of prospective feelings about pregnancy and retrospective characterization of pregnancy J Arcara Sexual Health and Reproductive Equity Program, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA S Arteaga, A Manchikanti Gomez Objectives: This study’s objective was to explore young Latinos’ prospective and retrospective feelings about and descriptions of pregnancy. To do so, we used semantic differential analysis, an approach for quantifying connotative meaning of words or phrases. Methods: We conducted a survey of 600 Latina/o women and men aged 18–29 that included two semantic differentials. First, participants were asked a hypothetical question about pregnancy: “If I found out I/a partner was pregnant today, I would feel….” Second, those reporting a previous pregnancy were asked: “The last time I was/got a partner pregnant, the pregnancy was….” For each question, participants received a list of word/phrase pairs with roughly opposite meanings (e.g., upset– happy) to finish the statement. For each pair, they selected the point closest to their feelings in relation to the question prompt on a five-point, bidirectional scale.
Best practices for LGBTQ inclusion and exclusion in reproductive health research N Ingraham Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, University of California, San Francisco, Oakland, CA, USA E Wingo, DG Foster, S Roberts Objectives: Strategies are needed to improve reproductive health care for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) individuals. Researchers are therefore beginning to include LGBTQ individuals in research about abortion, contraception and unintended pregnancy. Little guidance for how to do so in an effective and culturally appropriate manner exists. This study tested existing sexual orientation and gender identity and reproductive health measures among LGBTQ individuals and assessed participant descriptions of LGBTQ reproductive health research needs. Methods: Cognitive interviews with 39 LGBTQ people assigned female at birth (aged 18–44) were conducted from December 2016 to March 2017 after obtaining IRB approval. Interviews were analyzed using thematic and cognitive interview analysis. Data were collected primarily in the Bay Area and Baltimore; 11 participants were from other areas of the United States. Results: Participants responded well to recommended sexual orientation and gender identity measures: a two-step method for sex assigned at birth and gender identity and two of three sexual orientation factors (identity and behavior). Participants felt validated by expanded gender identity options and reproductive health items that used gender-neutral terminology. Participants advocated for research on barriers to reproductive health care for this population, and reproductive health impacts of transition-related care, such as effects on fertility. Conclusions: Cognitive testing indicates that there are relatively simple ways to make existing reproductive health surveys inclusive of and appropriate for LGBTQ individuals; however, to meet the reproductive health needs of LGBTQ individuals, researchers may need to add questions that go beyond abortion and contraception. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.contraception.2017.07.138
P109 Exploring family planning goals and counseling desires of women experiencing miscarriage: a qualitative study R Flink-Bochacki University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA ME Hamm, S Borrero, BA Chen, SL Achilles, JC Chang Objectives: Nearly 50% of pregnancies in the United States are unintended; 8%–20% of pregnancies end in spontaneous abortion. We explored pregnancy intendedness and future family planning goals of women experiencing spontaneous abortion.