Fertility and Contraception Among Low-income Child Abusing and Neglecting Mothers in Baltimore, MD, 1984-1985

<p>This study concerned fertility patterns and contracepting behaviors of mothers who personally neglect their children and mothers who either physically abuse or allow someone else to physically abuse their children. Data were collected from 518 women interviewed in their homes. All respondents were residents of Baltimore, Maryland in January 1984, received Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), were known to have at least one natural child 12 or under, and were not living with a legally wedded spouse. Respondents comprised three groups: 118 women with one or more physically abused children, 119 women who were known to personally neglect one or more children, and 281 women who were not known to have any children who met study criteria for abuse or neglect. The interview included 1,372 closed-end items and took approximately 90 minutes to complete. Topics covered included growing-up experiences, problems with depression and substance abuse, employment aspirations, marital and courtship violence, self-esteem, reproductive history, family planning behaviors, and demographic characteristics.</p>