Pregnancy planning by mothers of Pacific infants recently delivered at Middlemore Hospital

Abstract

Aims: To describe pregnancy planning by mothers of Pacific infants recently delivered at Middlemore Hospital.

Methods: The data were gathered as part of the Pacific Islands Families: First Two Years of Life (PIF) Study in which 1365 birth mothers were interviewed six weeks after the birth about the planning of their pregnancy. Mothers were asked if the pregnancy was planned, if the pregnancy was unplanned, the form of contraception used, or, if not used, their main reasons for not using contraception.

Results: Forty per cent of the mothers reported that they had planned their pregnancy. Of the 60% of mothers who had not planned their pregnancies, 70.8% were not using contraception when they conceived. The main reasons given by mothers for not using contraception were that they never thought about contraception (46.8%), did not like using contraception (42.5%), decided to take a chance (39.4%), did not want to risk the associated weight gain (30.4%), and did not think they could have a baby (17.3%). Factors significantly associated (p <0.05) with non-use of contraception by birth mothers who did not plan their pregnancy were lack of post-school qualifications and strong alignment with Pacific culture.

Conclusions: The findings showed that many women in this cohort did not avail themselves of the various contraceptive services available to them. An investigation into the accessibility and acceptability of family planning services needs to be undertaken to ensure that services are delivered in a way that maximises choices regarding the use of contraceptives.