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Experiences of crisis pregnancy among Irish and non-Irish adults living in Ireland: findings from the Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Survey 2010 (ICCP-2010)

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Abstract

Background

Using nationally representative data, this paper investigates the experience of crisis pregnancy (CP) among Irish and non-Irish adults living in Ireland in 2010.

Aims

To generate a detailed profile of Irish and non-Irish adults living in Ireland who have had an experience of CP and to investigate the differences in the experiences of CP between Irish and non-Irish adults.

Method

A national cross-sectional telephone survey methodology recruited 3,002 adult (18–45 years) participants (69 % response). Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were used to compare the differences between the Irish (n = 334) and non-Irish sample (n = 57) with an experience of CP.

Results

The majority of respondents with an experience of CP had a higher education level and were aged between 18 and 25 years. Significant differences, in terms of outcome of CP, were also found between groups; with more Irish respondents choosing parenthood over abortion, compared with their non-Irish counterparts.

Conclusion

This paper presents a unique profile of Irish and non-Irish adults living in Ireland with an experience of CP. Enhanced promotion of longer-acting contraceptives to all younger adults, and targeted awareness raising of post-abortion services among the non-Irish community, is recommended.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Irish Research Council Research and Senior Research Fellowship Projects scheme which was co-funded by the HSE Crisis Pregnancy Programme (Grant number: 1425) and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Summer Research Programme 2012.

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Correspondence to C. Kelleher.

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Yogalingam, K., Kelleher, C., Bourke, A. et al. Experiences of crisis pregnancy among Irish and non-Irish adults living in Ireland: findings from the Irish Contraception and Crisis Pregnancy Survey 2010 (ICCP-2010). Ir J Med Sci 182, 633–638 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-013-0943-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11845-013-0943-9

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