Determinants of unintended childbearing among ever-married women in the United States: 1973-1988

Abstract

A downward trend in unwanted childbearing has reversed among large segments of the population, according to data from the 1988 National Survey of Family Growth. The proportion of births in the previous five years that were unwanted at conception fell from 14 percent in 1973 to eight percent in 1982, but increased to 10 percent in 1988. Between the 1982 and 1988 surveys, increases were most pronounced among women with less than a high school education and among women living below the federal poverty level. Differences between black women and white women in levels of unwanted childbearing, which were converging prior to 1982, have since grown considerably, particularly among the poor and the less educated.

PIP: The increases in unwanted childbearing by 10% between 1982-88, particularly pronounced among women with less than a high school education and among those living below the federal poverty level, reflect the concerns in this article. Data from the National Survey of Family Growth, Cycle IV, (NSFG-IV) in 1988 were used to describe the trends between 1973-1988 in ever married US women aged 15-44 and % of unwanted and mistimed at conception births, by race and maternal characteristics (education, poverty level, residence). Determinants of unwanted childbearing were estimated with 3 sets of logistic regressions (total, black, and white). Data methods are described. Childbearing has been increasing among those with the least access to private medical care. The theoretical explanation offered is that income disparities among the lower income strata, particularly in the ghettos, produces alienation, and an increase in risk taking behavior, manifested as unprotected intercourse contributed consequently to unplanned conceptions. Other joint factors are declining parental authority, limited access to contraceptives, and conflicting messages about sex. The results show a decline in the proportion of unwanted births between 1973 and 1982, from 13% to 8%, and then a 10% increase. Mistimed births remain constant throughout the period. The proportion of births unwanted increased with the age of the mother, while mistimed births showed a decrease. Mistimed births consistently outnumber unwanted births. The actual numbers of mistimed births were 2 times as prevalent pre-1973 and 3 times, by 1982 as unwanted births. The % point difference between blacks and whites in unwanted births was 18 points in 1973, 9 points in 1982 and 14 points in 1988. Increases in formal education were related to smaller %s of unwanted births for either race, but statistically significant for those with high school education; this was not true in 1973. The proportion of unwanted births among women in poverty rose by almost 75% between 1973-82. By 1982, only black women below the poverty level with unwanted births were statistically significant; this was not true in 1973. Mistimed childbearing has risen among white women living outside SMSA's and unwanted childbearing within SMSA's. Births to women 30 years are more likely to be unwanted, with other variables controlled in the regression analyses. Race and ethnicity are known to be highly intercorrelated with level of income and educational attainment, but there remains an independent effect of race on unwanted childbearing. Access to abortion providers data was not available to assess the impact that abortion services have played, and will continue play on unwanted childbearing.