Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T03:17:38.653Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The unwanted birth and the family planning service

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 July 2008

Mary E. Brennan  and
L. J. Opit
Mary E. Brennan
Affiliation:
Health Services Research Unit, Department of Social Medicine, University of Birmingham
L. J. Opit
Affiliation:
Health Services Research Unit, Department of Social Medicine, University of Birmingham
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

In a survey in Coventry of 1079 post-natal patients, 11% (104) of married women and 46% (32) of single women stated that this birth was unwanted and emotionally distressing. The married women with unwanted births were the same age as other married women, but had substantially larger families. The single women with unwanted births were younger and all had left school at 16 years or below. Ten per cent of married women and 28% of single women with unwanted births had no knowledge of contraception and 28% of married women and 78% of single women with unwanted births had not used any contraceptive methods. Seventy-six per cent of married women and 78% of single women with unwanted births would have liked further professional advice.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Biosocial Science , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , October 1974 , pp. 407 - 415
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1974

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Billewicz, L. (1973) Some implications of self-selection for pregancy. Br. J. prev. soc. Med. 27, 49.Google Scholar
Brennan, M. & Opit, L. (1973) The demand for family planning amongst patients in a district maternity hospital. Br. med. J. iii (Suppl.), 19.Google Scholar
Cartwright, A. (1970) Parents and Family Planning Services. Routledge & Kegan Paul, London.Google Scholar
Forsmann, M. & Thiuwe, I. (1966) 120 children born after therapeutic abortion refused. Acta psychiat. neurol. scand. 42, 107.Google Scholar
Opit, L. & Brennan, M. (1974) Demand for surgical sterilization among patients in a district maternity hospital. Br. J. prev. soc. Med. 28, 19.Google Scholar
Peel, J. (1972) The Hull family survey. II. Family planning in the first 5 years of marriage. J. biosoc. Sci. 4, 333.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Registrar General (1973) Statistical Review of the Population, Part II. HM Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (1972) The Unplanned Pregnancy. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, 27 Sussex Place, London.Google Scholar
Woolf, M. (1971) Family Intentions. Office of Population Censuses and Surveys, HM Stationery Office, London.Google Scholar