We examined how traditional (income, education) and nontraditional (public assistance, material deprivation, subjective social standing) socioeconomic status (SES) indicators were associated with self-rated health, physical functioning, and depression in ethnically diverse pregnant women. Using multiple regression, we estimated the association of race/ethnicity (African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander (PI) and white) and sets of SES measures on each health measure. Education, material deprivation, and subjective social standing were independently associated with all health measures. After adding all SES variables, race/ethnic disparities in depression remained for all minority groups; disparities in self-rated health remained for Asian/Pacific Islanders. Few race/ethnic differences were found in physical functioning. Our results contribute to a small literature on how SES might interact with race/ethnicity in explaining health.
Nothing to worry about ladies. When there are more children than money and the career requires time, childcare and money you can't afford; you, your pregnancies and your children will be just fine. How great is that, huh?
THE RISK OF UNWANTED PREGNANCY (click here)
Almost all women between the ages of 13 and 50 share some risk of unwanted pregnancy. Each year, over 90% of sexually active women will succeed in preventing unwanted pregnancy during each men-strual cycle. Approximately 8% a year will fail. That small percentage means that hundreds of thousands of Canadian women will experience an unplanned pregnancy each year. These unplanned pregnancies constitute at least 40% of all pregnancies which occur to Canadian women. (For teenage pregnancies, the percentage is higher.)
WHY DO UNINTENDED PREGNANCIES OCCUR?
Usually, unplanned pregnancies occur when contraception fails or people fail to use it effectively. All current methods of contraception, especially the barrier methods, will fail to prevent pregnancy for a certain percentage of users over a one-year period (see chart). So even responsible use of effective contraceptives will result in a certain percentage of accidental pregnancies every year. And ignorance, embarrassment or restrictive religious teaching about contraception and fertility lead many people to rely on ineffective methods of avoiding pregnancy.
BARRIERS TO CONTRACEPTIVE USAGE
Researchers say that the proper use of effective contraception is at least a four-step process: planning for its use, obtaining it, talking with one's partner about its use, and making sure it is used on every occasion. Some people have trouble acknowledging they will be sexually active and that an unwanted pregnancy could happen to them, and many find it hard to discuss contraception with their partner. Some people fail to use contraception in situations where they have been using alcohol or drugs. Women who are very young, have low incomes and little education are the least likely to use contraceptives or use them properly. Some men are often not aware of, or do not accept, their equal responsibility-- for example, some men will not wear a condom. Contraceptives cost money. Some require a doctor's prescription. Some religions oppose the use of contraceptives and some schools and families still do not provide adequate sexual health education. And although sex is frequently shown on television, the major networks still reject ads for contraceptives....
