Determinants of Repeat Unintended Pregnancy

Christina I. Fowler, Research Triangle Institute
Helen P. Koo, Research Triangle Institute

In the U.S., the rate of unintended pregnancy is high and the incidence of repeated unintended pregnancies is substantial. Henshaw estimates that in 1994, 48% of women 15-44 had one unplanned pregnancy and 28% had more than one. To improve understanding of the determinants of unintended pregnancy, it is necessary to explore these relatively unstudied questions: What factors are associated with repeat unintended pregnancies? What factors distinguish women who have repeated unplanned pregnancies from those who do not? In this paper, we address these questions using data from the Longitudinal Study of Contraceptive Choice and Use Dynamics (baseline and three follow-up surveys conducted from 1993 to 2000). We conduct survival analysis to examine the effects of individual, relationship, and household factors, as well as time-varying contraceptive use, on the probability and timing of repeat unintended pregnancy.