Knowledge of pregnancy symptoms among abortion patients: is race a predictor?

This cross-sectional study characterizes first-trimester abortion patients who perceived inadequate knowledge of pregnancy symptoms and identifies net predictors of inadequate symptom knowledge. Data were collected at an abortion facility in Hampton Roads, Virginia. Study subjects were women surveyed on the day of their abortions, prior to termination procedures. Self-reported knowledge of pregnancy symptoms was the study's dependent variable. Of 342 women, 120 (35%) perceived inadequate symptom knowledge. These women more often were young, black, single, and poorly educated. Only black race was a net predictor of inadequate symptom knowledge when study variables were entered into a multiple logistic regression. Black race was the only net predictor of inadequate symptom knowledge among first-trimester abortion patients. This racial difference was not explained by socioeconomic or access factors. Future research should consider an alternative hypothesis, the possibility that more effective communications with black abortion patients are needed. Additionally, health-care providers should not presume that first-trimester abortion patients are familiar with pregnancy symptoms and should not stereotype patients who perceive knowledge limitations with regard to socioeconomic status.