Unintended Pregnancy and Family Planning

This study is a qualitative exploration of perceptions and attitudes about unintended pregnancy and family planning held by local leaders in three Washington communities (Yakima, Spokane, and Centralia-Chehalis). Findings suggest the family planning climate in these communities is primed for collaborative community-based efforts aimed at reducing teen pregnancy and the incidence of unintended pregnancy. Leaders in all three communities urge new directions in public education, strongly suggesting inclusion of curricula emphasizing critical thinking, choices and consequences, personal and social responsibility, financial decision-making, verbal and written communication, parenting, and sexual decision-making. Many leaders also stress a need to establish community-based parenting classes to help parents communicate with their children about personal boundaries and sexual decision-making. Data were gathered through semi-structured (qualitative) interviews with leaders from nine spheres of influence: business, education, government, public service, health care, community-based service organizations, media, religion, and philanthropy.