Parents’ Pregnancy Intention and Maternal and Child Health Outcomes: NSFG 2006-2010

Suzumi Yasutake, Johns Hopkins University

Parents’ pregnancy intentions are important for maternal and child health. I used the NSFG 2006-2010 to examine pregnancy intentions categorized as “jointly wanted”, “jointly mistimed”, “jointly unwanted” and “other combinations” and maternal and child health outcomes. The bivariate analysis found that jointly unwanted pregnancies are more likely to have poor maternal behaviors from preconception to the postpartum period. Mothers of jointly unwanted pregnancies smoke more than other mothers before conception and are less likely to have prenatal care and to live with their children. Jointly wanted pregnancies are more likely to have positive maternal health and birth outcomes. Babies of jointly intended pregnancies are more likely to be breastfed and less likely to be low birth weight. In future research, I will conduct a multivariate analysis considering demographic characteristics. Also, I will analyze pregnancies unwanted at least by one parent to examine who drives negative consequence of jointly unwanted pregnancies.