Pregnancy and Single Parenthood in the Navy: Results of a 1997 Survey.
Abstract
The 1997 Navy Survey of Parenthood and Pregnancy consisted of core items from prior versions and new items to investigate current concerns of Navy management. A disproportionate sampling scheme was used to maximize the number of respondents who had become pregnant the previous year. The surveys were mailed directly to 16,000 officer and enlisted women and men, and were answered anonymously. The Navy's annual pregnancy rates parallel civilian rates for age cohorts. Half of the women experiencing an unplanned pregnancy were not using birth control, whereas the pill was the most failure-prone method of contraception. Pregnant women in deployable units had more adverse outcomes than women on shore duty. More enlisted men were single parents in 1997 than in 1992. Less than 20% of the single pregnant women received counseling on the help available to them in obtaining financial support from the baby's father. There has been no increase in compliance with the requirement to complete a Family Care Certificate since 1992. The major recommendations were to: (1) conduct a prospective longitudinal study comparing the pregnancies of women assigned to sea duty type commands to those of women on shore duty; (2) attempt to reduce unplanned pregnancies by improving birth control education and expanding family planning efforts; and (3) emphasize the importance of the Family Care Certificate and the need to help single pregnant women obtain financial support.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA353976
Entities
People
- Patricia J. Thomas
- Zannette A. Uriell
Organizations
- Bureau of Naval Personnel