Planning for Motherhood: Fertility Attitudes, Desires, and Intentions among Women with Disabilities

• In Event: 462 - Regular Session. Fertility

Abstract

Approximately 10% of women of reproductive age report disabilities in the United States; however, the relationship between disability, motherhood attitudes, and fertility intentions is largely unknown. We use data from the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth to present the first summary of fertility attitudes and intentions by disability status for a nationally representative sample of U.S. women. Results suggest that motherhood is an equally salient role for women with and without disabilities – however, mothers with disabilities who want another birth have lower pregnancy intentions and less confidence in those intentions than mothers without disabilities. Despite the expanded opportunities for persons with disabilities in the contemporary US, some barriers remain in the pathway to motherhood.

Authors

• Carrie L. Shandra, State University of New York-Stony Brook

• Dennis P. Hogan, Brown University

• Susan E. Short, Brown University