U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.
        Here's how you know
      Here's how you know**Official websites use .gov**
            
            A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
      **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
            
            A **lock** (
            A locked padlock
            ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. Menu

      
        close

            
            
                                              About NIJ
        
                    
  
          About NIJ
      
    
          The NIJ Director
          How NIJ Is Organized
          Mission and Guiding Principles
          Research and Development Process
          Strategic Framework
          Assessments of NIJ
          Annual Reports & Reports to Congress
          Staff Directory
          Funding & Awards
        
                    
  
          Funding & Awards
      
    
          Current Funding
          Forthcoming Funding
          Expired Funding
          Awards: Listing of Funded Projects
          Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
          Fellowship & Student Programs
          Travel Scholarships
          NIJ Challenge Program
          Library & Multimedia
        
                    
  
          Library & Multimedia
      
    
          NIJ Journal
          Podcasts
          Publications Listing
          Multimedia Listing
          Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
          Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
          Software & Databases
          Datasets
          Patents
          Topics
        
                    
  
          Topics
      
    
          Article Listing
          Corrections
          Courts
          Crime Prevention
          Crimes
          Drugs and Crime
          Equipment and Technology
          Forensic Sciences
          Youth Justice
          Justice System Reform
          Law Enforcement
          Tribal Crime and Justice
          Victims of Crime
          Events
        
                    
  
          Events
      
    
          NIJ 2024 Research Conference
          Scheduled Events
          On-Demand Events
          Research Meetings & Workshops
          NIJ-Hosted Online Training

                            
                                About
          Contact Us
          Subscribe
          Topics A-Z
                  Share
FacebookXLinkedInRedditPinterestEmail Home
                            Library & Multimedia
 Pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use among young adults with histories of foster care
NCJ Number
              254206
Journal

*Children and Youth Services Review* Volume: 284 Issue: 94 Dated: 2018 Pages: 289
Author(s)
          K. M. Combs;
                        et al
Date Published

2018
Length
              6 pages
Annotation
              This study examined pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use among young adults with histories of foster care.
Abstract
              A total of 209 female and male young adults, aged 18-22, with histories of foster care were interviewed about their intentions and feelings towards pregnancy. Respondents were then categorized as having pro-pregnancy, ambivalent, or anti-pregnancy attitudes. Participants also reported their past-year contraceptive use, and the relationship between pregnancy attitudes and contraceptive use was subsequently explored for the overall sample, and by sex and history of pregnancy using Chi-square tests. Only 13.4 percent of participants had positive pregnancy intentions, although 41.9 percent reported that they would feel happy with a pregnancy. Over half (55.9 percent) of participants were anti-pregnancy, a third (32.8 percent) were ambivalent, and 11.3 percent were pro-pregnancy. Compared to females, males were more likely to have positive pregnancy intentions and to be pro-pregnancy. No differences in pregnancy attitudes were found as a function of pregnancy history. Consistent contraceptive use was significantly associated with pregnancy attitudes; 22.2 percent of pro-pregnancy participants reported consistent contraceptive use versus 52.9 percent of ambivalent and 62.2 percent of anti-pregnancy participants. In this exploratory study, few participants held pro-pregnancy attitudes and a high percentage of participants who were anti-pregnancy did not use contraception consistently. Although studies with larger samples examining this topic are needed, professionals should distinguish between young adults' intentions and feelings about pregnancy in an effort to better address contraceptive needs. (publisher abstract modified)
      
  
          Additional Details
Grant Number(s)
        2013-VA-CX-0002


  
  
        
  Agencies
        NIJ-Sponsored


  
  
        
  Award
        Long-Term Impact of a Positive Youth Development Program on Dating Violence Outcomes During the Transition to Adulthood
    
  
  
Date Published: January 1, 2018
    
          Downloads
        
                      HTML

Side navigation
  

        

  
  
              NIJ Journal
    
      
            
            
            
      Podcasts
    
      
            
            
            
      Publications Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Multimedia Listing
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Practices on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Rated Programs on CrimeSolutions
    
      
            
            
            
      Software & Databases
    
      
            
            
            
      Datasets
    
      
            
            
            
      PatentsRelated Topics
        
                Adolescent pregnancy
        Foster adolescents
        National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
        NIJ Grant-related Documents
        Young adults (18-24)



  
Similar Publications
        
                      A Novel Two-Step Method for the Detection of Organic Gunshot Residue for Forensic Purposes: Fast Fluorescence Imaging Followed by Raman Microspectroscopic Identification
                  Cognitive Science and the Law
                  Comparison of High-Resolution and Dynamic Reaction Cell ICP-MS Capabilities for Forensic Analysis of Iron in Glass
 Top

      National Institute of Justice

        
        
                        About NIJ
                    About NIJ
      
    
                  How NIJ Is Organized
      
    
                  NIJ Director
      
    
                  Research Disclaimer
      
    
                  Funding & Awards
                    Funding & Awards Home
      
    
                  Awards Listing
      
    
                  Current Funding
      
    
                  Guidance for Applicants and Awardees
      
    
                  Resources
                    Events
      
    
                  Podcasts
      
    
                  Publications
      
    
                  Topics
      
    
                  Multimedia
      
    
                  Reuse Policy
      
    
                  Contacts
                    Contact NIJ
      
    
                  Staff Directory
      
    
                  Submit a FOIA Request
      
    
                  File a Civil Rights ComplaintFacebook
          
                      X
          
                      YouTube
  

      810 7th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20531
      
              Secondary Footer link menu
            Accessibility
              Plain Language
              Privacy Policy
              Legal Policies and Disclaimer
              No FEAR Act
              Freedom of Information Act
              USA.gov
              Justice.gov