Contraceptive Use, Unmet Need for Contraception, and Unintended Pregnancy in a Context of Mexico-U.S. Migration

• Main Authors: Kathryn Kessler, Shira M. Goldenberg, Liliana Quezada
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institut Veolia Environnement 2010-10-01
• Series: Field Actions Science Reports
• Subjects: contraception; Jalisco; Mexico; migration; unintended pregnancy
• Online Access: http://journals.openedition.org/factsreports/534
• ISSN: 1867-139X; 1867-8521

This study examines the impact of migration on contraceptive use, unmet need for contraception, and unintended pregnancy among migrants from Tlacuitapa, Jalisco, a migrant-sending community in Mexico with a long history of out-migration to the United States. Our analysis found that after controlling for demographic factors, being born in the United States and having lived in the United States for at least one year during youth have a statistically significant positive effect on using medical contraception. We also found that having lived in the United States during youth has a negative influence on unmet need, suggesting that exposure to the United States during these formative years may facilitate access to contraception. In terms of migration and unintended pregnancy, our analysis yielded that being born in the United States and having lived in the United States during youth have a positive effect on unintended pregnancies, suggesting that U.S. experience may in fact be a risk factor for, rather than protective against, unintended pregnancy.