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London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy

The London Measure of Unplanned Pregnancy is a 6-item measure focusing on the circumstances and feelings around the time the respondent became pregnant most recently. Final scores given are classified as most recent pregnancy having been planned, ambivalent or unplanned. Further up-to-date information regarding the measure can be found here.

Categories

Geographies Tested: United Kingdom

Populations Included: Female

Age Range: Adolescents, Adults

Items:

Below are some questions that ask about your circumstances and feelings around the time you became pregnant. Please think of your current (or most recent) pregnancy when answering the questions below.

*1.In the month that I became pregnant...

Response Options:
Iwe were not using contraception - 2
Iwe were using contraception, but not on every occasion - 1
Iwe always used contraception, but knew that the method had failed (i.e. broke, moved, came off, came out, not worked etc) at least once - 1
Iwe always used contraception - 0

2.*In terms of becoming a mother (first time or again), I feel that my pregnancy happened at the...

Response Options:
Right time - 2
Ok, but not quite right time - 1
Wrong time - 0

*3.Just before I became pregnant...

Response Options:
I intended to get pregnant - 2
My intentions kept changing - 1
I did not intend to get pregnant - 0

*4.Just before I became pregnant...

Response Options:
I wanted to have a baby - 2
I had mixed feelings about having a baby - 1
I did not want to have a baby - 0

In the next question, we ask about your partner - this might be (or have been) your husband, a partner you live with, a boyfriend, or someone you’ve had sex with once or twice.

*5.Before I became pregnant...

Response Options:
My partner and I had agreed that we would like me to be pregnant - 2
My partner and I had discussed having children together, but hadn’t agreed for me to get pregnant - 1
We never discussed having children together - 0

**6.Before you became pregnant, did you do anything to improve your health in preparation for pregnancy?

  • Took folic acid
  • Stopped or cut down smoking
  • Stopped or cut down drinking alcohol
  • Ate more healthily
  • Sought medicalhealth advice
  • Took some other action, please describe
  • I did not do any of the above before my pregnancy

Response Options:
Two or more actions - 2
One action - 1

*Please tick the statement which most applies to you
**Please tick all that apply

Scoring Procedures

Total scores range from 0 to 12. Increasing score represent increasing pregnancy planning/intention. Scores cut-offs are suggested as follows:

10-12=Planned
4-9=Ambivalent
0-3=Unplanned

Original Citation

Barrett, G., Smith, S. C., & Wellings, K. (2004). Conceptualisation, development, and evaluation of a measure of unplanned pregnancy. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 58(5), 426-433. https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2003.014787 .


Psychometric Score

Ease of Use Score

Scoring breakdown

Formative Research

Qualitative Research

Existing Literature/Theoretical Framework

Field Expert Input

Cognitive Interviews / Pilot Testing

Reliability

Internal

Test-retest

Interrater

Validity

Content

Face

Criterion (gold-standard)

Construct

KEY

Ease of Use

Readability

Scoring Clarity

Length

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