Exploring ambivalence toward pregnancy among young Inuit women

Abstract

Ambivalence toward pregnancy is an important predictor of early pregnancy as documented in diverse Western societies. Inuit women from Nunavik, a northern region of Quebec, Canada, experience a high rate of early pregnancy, yet no study has explored their attitudes toward pregnancy. Grounded in a participatory approach, this study aimed to explore ambivalence toward pregnancy, among other pregnancy-related attitudes, and identify themes underlying ambivalence among young Inuit women from Nunavik. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 women aged 16 to 20 years, who became pregnant during the year preceding the interview. We used an inductive approach to analyse the data. Eleven participants were identified as ambivalent toward pregnancy while three were characterised as having a favourable attitude, and one as unfavourable. Four themes related to ambivalence were identified: the value of childbearing/motherhood; the use of contraceptives; the likelihood of becoming pregnant; and the ideal age to become pregnant. A better understanding of young women’s attitudes toward pregnancy could contribute to the development of culturally relevant programmes to more effectively support adolescents, pregnant adolescents and young mothers, and to lead to better care.

Keywords:

• Ambivalence
• pregnancy in adolescence
• indigenous population(s)
• attitude
• Inuit

Acknowledgements

This paper is dedicated to the memory of a friend and colleague Linda Shipaluk, who was integrally involved in the research. We wish to express how much she meant to us and how much we learned from her. The authors also wish also to thank the women who participated in the project. We are also grateful to our partners and collaborators: the Kativik Regional Government; The Kativik Ilisarniliriniq School Board; the Nunavik Regional Board of Health and Social Services; the Nunavik Nutrition and Health Committee; the municipal councils of all 14 communities of Nunavik; the Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec; and Qanuilirpitaa? survey principal investigator, co-principal investigators, Inuit co-principal investigators, and the survey’s Steering and Data Management Committees.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported financially by the Nunavik Regional Board Health and Social Services, the Minister of Health and Social Services of Quebec, ArcticNet, Makivik Corporation, the Kativik Regional Government, the Kativik Ilisarniliriniq School Board, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.