The plans in unplanned pregnancy: secondary gain and the partnership.

A total of 128 North London women were interviewed using a semi-structured interview technique. Life-events, difficulties, variables relating to the quality of their sexual partnerships, self-esteem and the secondary gain inherent in becoming pregnant were examined. Results indicated that women with unplanned pregnancies were significantly more likely to have been in a situation of potential secondary gain from a pregnancy than were women with planned pregnancies and women who were not pregnant. Measurements of the women's partnerships were also linked to the intentionality of pregnancy. The implications of these results are discussed.