Pregnancy and Parenthood in the Navy: Results of the 2008 Survey
Abstract
Sound policy should be based upon accurate data. However, data may not be accurately recorded or may not be readily available. Data about pregnancy, single parenthood, and attitudes towards birth control are difficult to gain from existing databases alone, so the 2008 Navy Pregnancy and Parenthood Survey was conducted to assess these issues. A variation of this survey has been conducted since 1988, and this annotated brief provides the latest data points while also comparing to previous years. Results for 2008 show that percentages of single parents are similar to previous years, but the estimated count is actually lower, at about 12,000 single Navy fathers and 6,000 single Navy mothers. Family Care Plan compliance continues to be less than 100 percent, but most single parents and dual-military parents do have some plan in place in case they are deployed. Over half of female officers say breaks in service, such as sabbaticals, would motivate them to stay in the Navy. Most personnel use birth control, but the percentage who do so has decreased slightly from 2005 for enlisted men. Women are more comfortable discussing and getting birth control from Independent Duty Corpsman and shipboard medical personnel than before. Point-in-time pregnancy rates are similar to previous results, although annual rates for enlisted women are higher.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA503230
Entities
People
- Landrus Burress
- Zannette A. Uriell
Organizations
- Bureau of Naval Personnel